The musical vaudeville known as Chicago is based on an original play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The musical comedy-drama is my favorite play for a number of reasons, least of which is the main storyline. The main storyline revolves around a murderess called Roxie Hart. RoxieÆs lawyer is so greedy that he is able to get her acquitted and she becomes a big star of vaudeville. In 1975, Bob Fosse retained the rights to WatkinsÆ play and turned it into a musical. The excellent songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb are another primary reason this is my favorite play. When you combine the music and songs with the jazz era vaudeville sets and costumes, the play becomes an immensely entertaining extravaganza. The Fosse version focuses on the show business elements of the play, including the rivalry between Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly. Along with these elements, the opening words from the master of ceremonies demonstrate the other aspects of the play that make it a highly enjoyable experience, ôMurder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery,ö (Watkins 1975).
Such elements would make most dramas entertaining but the singing and dancing of the talented performers lifts Chicago to the heights of entertainment. Sensational singing and dancing highlight the storyline, including some of the most witty and show-stopping tunes ever produced on stage such as Razzle Dazzle. However, another primary feature of the play is the satiric book by Fed Ebb that undermines celebrity worship as the be-all-and-end all of life. I find that in our contemporary society where celebrities are the new ôroyaltyö, the satire of celebrity worship is highly significant to our own times. Another aspect of the play that is satirized by EbbÆs book is the injustice of justice. In light of the enormous flaws in our contemporary justice system, such as death row inmates being exonerated by DNA evidence and celeb
...