Chicago's Velma Kelly
Velma Kelly is a strong, outspoken vaudevillian who was committed to Cook County jail after murdering her husband and sister when she found them in bed together. She is used to performing and giving the audience what they want, after being in a sister act for years. The play opens with Velma singing "All That Jazz" right after the murder, this shows the audience that she has no remorse and cares more about keeping the show going. Later she is committed to Cook County jail, and performs the "Cell Block Tango" where the audience finds out why Velma is in jail.
While in Jail Velma becomes friends with Matron "mama" Morton and they discuss how, with the help of Billy Flynn, she will be acquitted soon and how the press will help her land a job when she is out. Velma soon gets out but is forgotten about when her Lawyer Billy Flynn takes Roxie Hart's case and the press becomes more interested in her. In an attempt to jump on Roxie's success wagon, Velma offers her to join in a sister act on vaudeville with her by singing "I Can't Do it Alone". Roxie initially declines but when her trial is over and she isn't popular anymore she joins with Velma in a successful vaudeville sister act and the audience sees them back on top. Velma seems to be the only character that has a direct connection with the audience, acting as a host in between acts. This gives her an edge above the other characters because we know that as audience members, Velma is aware that she is "putting on a show" in a sense. Velma is an experienced vaudeville performer so she carries her act throughout her life, never taking anything seriously. This character trait is one in which resembles the personality of the Legendary, Texas Guinan.
Texas Guinan
Texas Guinan was born in Waco, Texas 1884, she was known as being a party girl dressing "Scantly clad" for her era. She performed in many different vaudeville acts, plays, musicals, revues, and movies. "In 1922, during a chance visit to the Gold Room, Guinan fascinated the crowd with the witty banter she engaged in with the emcee. The management promptly snatched her up as their permanent hostess thereby ensuring the club's success. She increased attendance by introducing special guest stars, celebrity nights, and movie star nights." (Baker). She was a woman who took big risks, In 1924 she created the Fey Club. The club sold liquor during the prohibition, but soon the club was shut down by the police. However, Guinan was not afraid and followed her predecessor by opening 7 more clubs, all of which got shut down in a matter of months. Every evening, she would open the club by yelling "Hello Suckers" and talking to the audience in between acts. When the police would break up her night clubs she would never take it seriously, and during her trial she plead "not guilty". "Her trial was a burlesque. While everyone knew that Guinan was to some extent, guilty. they wished her well and wanted her to prevail...Guinan often outsmarted the prosecuting attorney."(Baker) Texas Guinan was able to convince the jury to give her the verdict of "not guilty" in assisting the sales of liquor. The trails brought the press to Texas Guinan, increasing her popularity, launching her into more jobs. Texas Guinan fell ill in 1933, and died on November 5, one month before the prohibition was over.
Velma Kelly as Texas Guinan
When trying to make a character resemble the great Texas Guinan Bob Fosse needed to incorporate a show host to symbolizes the ways in which Texas Guinan would "take care" of her audience. In the beginning of act II Velma addresses the audience by hollering "Hello Suckers", a famous line in which Guinan would use to open her nightclubs with. Not only does the character Velma have to play the host throughout the entire show, her attitude towards other characters and the court system, mirrors the way in which Texas Guinan would act. Velma is a witty character who knows how to put on a show for people in her personal life. For example, Velma performs the song "When Velma Takes the Stand" she talks to her lawyer about how she will act in front of the jury in order to be considered "not guilty". Also when she is in jail she talks to Matron "mama" Morton about how she will be out of the Cook County Jail soon and they talk about how great the publicity is for her. This is similar to how Texas Guinan would outsmart the people in the courtroom and how she wouldn't take her trial seriously. Below are two videos showing both the character Velma and the real Texas Guinan would talk to their audience. In the beginning Velma opens with "Hello Suckers" and Texas Guinan calls her audience "suckers". In both videos, the witty personality in the women, shine through as they crack jokes and they provide a laid back presents that is inviting to watch.
"Hello Suckers"
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