U7 Summer Work Research – Task 3

I decided to choose the song Funny Honey from the longest running American show on west end called Chicago. This musical started as a play written in 1926 by reporter Maurine Dallas, based on two 1924 murder cases. The case against Beulah May Annan was the model for main character Roxie who I will be performing as. However the original Broadway musical opened in 1975 directed by John Kander and Fred Ebb performed at the 46^th Street Theatre. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concepts of the “celebrity criminals”.

Synopsis

Velma Kelly is the sexy vaudeville star who murders her philandering husband and sister after finding them in bed together doing the Spread Eagle. She has Chicago’s finest lawyer, Billy Flynn set to defend her. Roxie is the wannabe vaudeville star who killed her love affair man after finding out he was never going to make her famous. Billy takes on Roxie as his new big case turning her into a media craze of the headlines. Neither one of these women will be outdone in their battle against each other and the public for fame and glory.

Funny Honey

The song Funny Honey occurs in act 1 scene 2 it’s a balled from Roxie. She is singing a song about love and devastation witch is dedicated to her husband Amos, however the song turns to rage towards him. This song is important to the story; it shows Roxie’s true behaviour its limits. This song also tells you about the crime Roxie committed so is a main part of the musical.

Roxie Hart

The character Roxie is a lead in the production she is self-centred and not very bright. She’s never thinking about the consequences of her actions, Roxie makes bad decisions throughout the show all in the name of public recognition. Despite being a generally dislikable character, Roxie remains strangely sympathetic to the audience because we understand that her selfishness isn’t malicious. Over all, Roxie Hart embodies the corruption of what fame can bestow upon a person.