[faliah_dahn]

Hi everybody!

I really want to know the differences between the film and the orginal musical itself. Is there more dialogue in the movie, or the play? Is the play raunchier, or is the PG-13 film?

I've only ever seen the movie. I've been trying to find transcripts of the play online, but the only one I found was partial (and lousy). So I'd love to simply hear about the play from people who have seen it.

(I read somewhere that Mary Sunshine is outed as a man in the play, I think. If so, when does that happen? Between what musical numbers?)

Thanks a billion!

[pish123c]

Well, do you mean the original from the 70's or the revival that started during the 90's? You'd have to specify, since the two are worlds different as far as the look and feel...

[santtu]

The biggest difference between the movie and the stage version (revival or the original) is that in the movie most of the musical numbers take place in Roxie's imagination. On stage the musical numbers are a part of the 'reality'.

There wasn't much difference in amount of dialogue, in the film the court scene was changed (Velma's bit with the diary was added), on stage (the 90s revival) it's a very presicely choreographed scene - even though there's no singing in it. Very clever and a brilliant scene! Much better than in the film. But the stage version just wouldn't work on film.

And as you know, the song "Class" was cut from the film. On stage it is sung by Velma & Mama after Velma discovers Roxie has stolen her shoes just before Roxie's second trial scene.

And during that second trial scene Billy Flynn, during his monologue, 'outs' Mary Sunshine. He says something like "things aren't always as they seem" and Mary sings this short 'aaaaaahh' bit and once (s)he reaches the top (falsetto) note, Flynn pulls off Mary's wig and Mary drops his voice to his natural male voice. After that, he leaves the stage, the jury reaches the verdict and then the new murder happens outside the court house and everyone storms out. Sunshine returns to the stage once more, in a white tank top and without his wig, to announce Velma's and Roxie's "Hot Honey Rag".

Also the number "Nowadays" does not start in the revival as Roxie's audition song, she starts it right in the court room as everyone has left her there alone. The scene changes to the "Two Merry Murderess'" double act as a duet and goes on into "Hot Honey Rag".

[faliah_dahn]

thanks so much for your replies. i appreciate it so much!!

mostly i'm interested in the 90s revival.

i guess all i'm curious about now is the stage version's courtroom scene. you said it's different -- how so? i liked that bit with velma and the diary ... it really brought both girls full circle. what happens instead?

[santtu]

The court room scene (Roxie takes the stand) is played out (mostly) by Billy and Roxie, acting out their version of what happened the night Roxie shot Fred Caseley. Amos and Fred Caseley also appear in the scene, the ensemble is also on stage, standing on the front edge of the orchestra stand (yes, the orchestra is right there in the middle of the stage visible for the audience, in a jury box -like stand) and one of the ensemble members is the judge and one is playing several members of the jury, moving from one chair to another as he (male dancer) changes the character.

In the scene Billy leads Roxie into telling her version of the story, i.e. how she had no choice but shoot Fred as he threatened her "and her unborn child's lives". Amos and Fred come in and leave the stage a couple of times, the orchestra adds some sound effects and background music and the ensemble adds some nice effects as well.

It's really a great scene, really funny. The timing of the dialogue, moves, sound effects (ensemble & orchestra) are so brilliantly 'choreographed'

Velma appears nowhere in this scene, neither does the diary. It was all written for the movie.

[jackissensational]

Wait, did Billy reveal Mary Sunshine's "manlihood" in the show, recent film, or both?

[pish123c]

[jackissensational]

Ah, thank you.

[santtu]

The whole "Mary Sunshine is a man in drag" thing was deleted from the film and the role was played on screen by Christine Baranski. On stage the role is always played by a man, in the cast list his first name is hidden, only the initial letter is used (D. Sabella, J. Bean etc.)

In the London production's programme they have the headshots of the actors and the actor playing M. Sunshine appears in the role make-up & wig in his/'her' photo.

[theatre4life]

[Salome]

also cut were

'When Velma Takes the Stand"
"A Little bit of Good"
"I know a girl"
'Me and my Baby"

[Astonishingg]

[Mungojerrie_rt]

I saw a track list for a cast recording once and there were 9 more songs tahn in the film, including:

A Little Bit of Good
I Know A Girl
Me and My Baby
When Velma Takes The Stand
Class
I Can't Do It Alone (Reprise)

(They're not in the right order by the way.)