Chicago's Roxie Hart
Roxie Hart is the main character in Chicago, she is an aspiring vaudevillian who will do anything to become a star. In her pursue of becoming a vaudevillian, she is blinded by the fact that she has been tricked into sleeping with a man who promises her fame. Soon she comes to realize that she has been lied to, so in a furious rage she shoots him. When her husband Amos comes home she tries to convince him that she was being robbed and to tell the police that he shot him. During the scene in which Amos is admitting to the cops that he had killed the "intruder" Roxie sings "Funny Honey" . Upon talking to the police Amos finds out that the man who was shot was their furniture salesman and concluded that Roxie was having an affair with him. He then tells the police that she shot him and Roxie is taken into Cook County jail where she meets a former vaudevillian, Velma Kelly and the Matron Morton whom the women call "mama". During the musical Matron "Mama" Morton introduces Roxie to Billy Flynn a lawyer who is famous for winning numerous cases involving murders committed by women.
Billy Flynn, and the press that surrounds him, turn Roxie Hart into an instant star. Soon Roxie's name and face is everywhere, and she finally got the fame shes been wishing for. Although, her stardom doesn't last long once the press sheds light on a new convicted murderess. However, Roxie is so star hungry that she fakes being pregnant to gain back her popularity. Soon Roxie's trial takes place and she uses her "Razzle Dazzle" techniques taught by her Lawyer, which gets her acquitted. After her released, she soon finds herself to be yesterdays news and the press moves on to another case. In her struggle to become famous she then pairs up with her previous prison mate, Velma Kelly, and the two of them perform a vaudevillian sister act which puts then right back on top.
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan was born on August 2, 1900 and performed during the 20's and 30's she was famous for her torch songs and her performance as Julie in Showboat. Morgan was a singer and loved to sing in jazz clubs, on Broadway, vaudeville, the radio, you name it. Her staple act was to sing a torch song (usually about a man whom doesn't love her) and sit atop of a piano so she could be seen by everyone. Her favorite place to perform was in night clubs however, this was during prohibition so most of the time she would be involved in illegal acts and she herself would drink after her performances. Due to this Helen Morgan had been arrested twice for her involvements with the speakeasies in 1929, (Ruhlmann) however the first time her charges were dropped and the second she was acquitted. Then the stock market crash in October of '29 lead to a drop in ticket sales, leaving Morgan looking at a dark road in front of her. Later on she quit performing in clubs and continued performing in revues, musicals, movies, and recording songs. Eventually Helen Morgan died on October 8th 1941 at the age of 41 (Ruhlmann).
Roxie Hart as Helen Morgan
Bob Fosse had the idea of incorporating Helen Morgan into his musical and with the help of Fred Ebb and John Kander they were able to capture the essence of Helen Morgan's torch songs into Roxie's song "Funny Honey". During this song Roxie is singing about her husband and how average he is, which is reminiscent of Helen Morgan's song "Bill" which she performed as Julie in Showboat. The way this song is choreographed also reminds the audience of the way in which Helen Morgan would perform her songs, in a nightclub next to or on top of a piano. Below is a side by side comparison of Helen Morgans character Julie's song "Bill" and Roxie's song "Funny Honey". In both they are referring to there average husbands whom they care for (in a way).
Oscar Hammerstien II's lyrics:
"But along came Bill Who's not the type at all You'd meet him on the street and never notice him His form and face,his manly grace Are not the kind hat you would find in a statue. And I cant Explain, It's Surely not his brain that make me thrill. I love him because he's wonderful Because he's just my Bill" |
Fred Ebb's lyrics:
"He ain't no sheik That's no great physique Lord knows,he ain't got the smarts But look at that soul I tell you that whole Is a whole lot greater Than sum of his parts..." "He loves me so And it all suits me fine That funny, sunny, honey Hubby of mine!" |
"Bill"/"Funny Honey"
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