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Not that youd pick up the next loose firearm and shoot your lover after discovering his or her infidelity to you (ladies, dont, no matter how angry you are; some people are not worth the jail term to serve) but people who, in their quest for fame, end up confusing it with infamy. That way, he ended up becoming a tool for everyone to exploit. Despite the supposedly light, vaudeville style of Chicago, Kander, Ebb and Fosse's adaptation (which takes inspiration from Maurine Dallas Watkin's play of the same name) draws purposeful parallels between the legal system and the culture of celebrity and sensation journalism. Gender: Male. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, you've got to come see . Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children. In the end he manages to get Roxie acquitted, largely on account of turning the trial into a media circus. You have a bunch of dancers and all that jazz having fun in what seemed to be a nightclub in Prohibition Era Chicago and then an extra giddy couple enters the stage and go lovey-dovey on each other. The vaudeville is perfect for a caricature of 1920s Chicago, where life seemed to occur exclusively in the seductive smog of jazz bars, and rejecting the moral norms of previous decades wastrs la mode. Videos. Traditionally in musicals the music is embedded . Almost 100 years later, the unwitting moral of this dazzling musical remains pertinent First of all, dont murder men (unless they deserve it)*; and secondly, women are incredibly powerful when we stick together. When public attention fades, even Duncan from Blue (sorry, their lawyer, Billy Flynn) seems to lose interest in their cases. Thats one thing he can manage to be honest about. ESFP. Tu direccin de correo electrnico no ser publicada. Best of 2022 Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. Billy Flynn: Age 35-60. Definitely the kind of lawyer you would hire because his antics can work to your, hes worth the money paid. Character Analysis (Avoiding Spoilers) . Chicago, a musical originally choreographed, directed and co-written by the legendary Bob Fosse in 1975, is the story of Roxie Hart, a wannabe cabaret star in 1920s Chicago. Roxie doesn't have one, so Mama suggests the best criminal lawyer in Chicago, BILLY FLYNN. Alphabet Soup: Billy Flynn. Best known as the sweetie little jazz murderess, called by her lawyer Billy Flinn. But if these songs are used well to push a story forward and introduce a set of dynamic characters that you can relate with, then youre rest assured of reruns that would last decades just like what happened in Chicago. When Roxie found out the true, she killed him with a gun. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists, See more characters from Nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) murders her philandering husband, and Chicago's slickest lawyer, Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), is set to defend her. Show Guides. NEW YORK (AP) - R&B superstar Usher makes his Broadway debut on Aug. 22 in Chicago, playing that slick, seductive lawyer, Billy Flynn in the John Kander-Fred Ebb musical. Billy is a calm, smooth-talking and charismatic lawyer who always looks for loopholes and twists the truth in order for him to win his clients' cases. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. She found out her husband had several wives and killed him with Arsenic. Search all shows. The last murderesses to enter in the Cook County Jail. The queen from the Chicagos press. These characters from the movie Chicago are displayed from top to bottom according to their prevalence in the film, so you can find the lead characters at the top of the list. The comparison, though satirical, strikes a rather serious chord under all the cabaret, cursing and relentless . Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. . The story is inspired by the screaming headlines of the Front Page era and the decade after. [2] In the musical adaptation, his style is based upon Ted Lewis. Flynn, who has never lost a case, now only takes the most high-profile clients. "My great-grandmother and I would play dress up," recounts Flynn. Her role is a memorable one since the song When Youre Good to Mama is pretty straight-forward about her agenda. The comparison, though satirical, strikes a rather serious chord under all the cabaret, cursing and relentless sarcasm. As he explains, This trial. Its less about the law applicable to her and more about the drama applied on the law available for her to use. But that in no way meant that he was out of the woods. He was born on May 29, 1985, and shares his birthday with basketball player Carmello Anthony and the late President John F. Kennedy. Roxie Hart. Her statements regarding the murder case conflicted after her lawyer, Billy Flynn, got preoccupied with his . If you get the opportunity to see it live, do it. Melodrama is not the only genre that can present stories involving such crimes. A special $1.99 per month offer (for 12 months) is available now for a limited time. But later on, as presented here in Chicago The Musical, the lawyers job is to provide the client with something to say to the press and to the jury, something that Roxie Hart badly needed. He has a strong speaking ability, lots of energy and presence. Without Flynn and with a dose of brainless arrogance, she almost got hanged if not for a need to live again and enjoy being the media celebrity all over again. The Milton Area High School Drama Club will present "Chicago: Teen Edition" on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the school's performing arts center. At least, in Chicago The Musical, there are song-and-dance numbers around. Naturally we dont condone murder at Harpy Mag (no, not even of your awful ex, sorry), but as this dynamic sextet protest how could you tell me that I was wrong?, the various stabbings, shootings and poisonings seem almost justified. The movie is a dazzling song and dance extravaganza, with just enough words to support the music and allow everyone to catch their breath between songs. Husband: Charlie. Murderesses Velma Kelly (a chanteuse and tease who killed her husband and sister after finding them in bed together) and Roxie Hart (who killed her boyfriend when she discovered he wasn't going to make her a star) find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago. Hi. He is also flamboyant and narcissistic in the way that he can tell he is superior to everyone around him and always uses his charisma to assist him whenever possible. The song is a true show with backup dancers, costume changes, and dancing, and Flynn takes the viewer to see him as the "ordinary guy" before realizing he is a top-notch lawyer in town. to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! ON BREAKING CHARACTER . 2 0 obj She doesnt have the money. Billy Flinn, and with help from Amos she is able to afford him and become the talk of the town. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Chicago characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. Los campos obligatorios estn marcados con *. Some journalists could only be so vulnerable a trait not advisable for their profession. Roxie harts lover. Reilly brings a kind of pathetic sincere naivete to the role--the same tone, indeed, he brings to a similar husband in "The Hours," where it is also needed. The fact that the jazz-themed music are catchy enough to get stuck in your head makes the grim scenarios less grim than they actually are. billy flynn chicago character analysis "Bologna da Vivere, non solo la convinzione di coloro i quali visitano questa splendida citt, ma anche e soprattutto uno dei pi importanti e - per qualit di servizi offerti- uno dei pi interessanti portali internet che si possono consultare on line." 26 febbraio 2001 . I will also talk about my ideas for the costumes for the prison girls. By filming it in its own spirit, by making it frankly a stagy song-and-dance revue, by kidding the stories instead of lingering over them, the movie is big, brassy fun. Photographs of Jones and Zellweger sourced via Pinterest, and of Mazz Murray via Chicago On Stage. Born sometime in 1955, Flynn and his mother Nora, a prostitute and drug addict, lived in the suburbs of southern California in his early years. She is wealthy because of her family and she is known for going crazy telling everyone to go-to-hell. John Kander, Billy is the female murderesses hero in an expensive suit -- in all. There's an inspired scene of ventriloquism and puppetry at a press conference, with all of the characters dangling from strings. But when Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger) also winds up in prison, Billy takes on her case as well - turning her into a media circus of headlines. Movies. Paul Dano is an actor who can be distant and mystifying. (tenor) Amos Hart: Age 30-50. But she has Amos who may be way dumber than Roxie will ever be. Sexual Content and Dialogue, Violence, The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. Velma Kelly. Advertisement. Comparetto shared the exciting news on social media along with nearly two dozen 60s-inspired photos that show off her baby bump and the couple's enthusiasm about the next chapter of their lives. "I'm a work in progress," he shared. 43/6 . Also, there are some Kander and . Famous, infamous, it doesnt make any difference for her as long as shes on the front page. "All I Care About (is Love)" serves as Flynn's jingle, in which the crooner claims not to care about wealth or materialism and works for his love of women (later revealed to be a complete lie), "They Both Reached For The Gun (The Press Conference Rag)" serves as a ventriloquist act with a call-and-response between Billy's "dummy" Roxie and the press, and "Razzle Dazzle" (a champagnesque piece with what Jerry Orbach described as "Brechtian subtlety"[1]) serves as the explanation of Flynn's modus operandi: make the case a distraction so that the jury loses attention. For Fosse, the Chicago of Roxie Hart supplied the perfect peg to hang his famous hat. Of Zellweger and Gere, it can be said that they are persuasive in their musical roles and well cast as their characters. The musicals commentary on the way the public become the jury in high profile crimes remains relevant today, as time and again the public are accused of unfairly meting out justice (often via Twitter) and taking part in so calledwitch hunts. B oat: He once lived on a sailboat in Marina . She killed her husband with a shotgun because he popped his gum. Sexy, persuasive, manipulative, masculine. The Flynn has been at the center of Vermont's cultural landscape for 90 years. In the play, he defends Hart and her rival Velma Kelly, winning both cases. Sweetest little jazz killer in Chicago. Completely loyal and devoted to his beloved wife. Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall. ???? The Phantom of the Opera: What Was the Monkey Music Box For? [3], https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Billy_Flynn_(Chicago)&oldid=1134898946, This page was last edited on 21 January 2023, at 09:51. Innocent, sexy, desperate, selfish. Billy knows the secret to getting public opinion on his side: turn the whole trial into a show! He shows signs that he would eagerly abandon his clients for a richer, more famous one if he had the chance. She is a nave woman with a bad temper. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The Man in the Iron Mask, The Man in the Iron Mask (Genre), The Man in the Iron Mask (Character) and more. Mama is the matron of Cook County Jail. So as we navigate some truly difficult times, in which the legal and political systems seem to repeatedly fail women and absolve their abusers and harassers, we need to make sure that we are willing to stand up for the women in our lives. And it gets me thinking about several factors that made the repeat viewings worth it. Matron Mama Morton. Roxie Hart, Billy Flynn, Amos Hart. He is an incredibly charismatic, flamboyant and smooth talking lawyer with an incredibly corrupt and nihilistic outlook on life. Chicago: All That Jazz (Official Video) Chicago . William "Billy" Flynn is the deuteragonist of the musical Chicago, and all of its adaptations. Identifying the character type and personality traits can help you better understand what the larger role of the character is within the story. Discover the MBTI personality type of 13 popular Chicago (Theatre) characters and find out which ones you are most like! Flynn is a composite character based on real-life Chicago attorneys of the era, William Scott Stewart and W. W. William Flynn is a fictional character from the 1926 play Chicago, written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, and its various derivative works and remakes. The same game plan he used on Velma Kelly is the same game plan he used on Roxie Hart. It starts with Roxie Hart's cold-blooded murder of Fred Casely. but not much is done with the character. Seeking 2 Actor Team for Spring It is the story of Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger), a wannabe cabaret star in 1920s Chicago.She sleeps around unbeknownst to her husband, Amos (John C. Reilly), but has a falling-out with one of her lovers, shoots him and is arrested for murder. Chicago brought Huey Lewis his Broadway debut, too. And that says a lot about some lawyers from the Prohibition Era from this musical is set to today. He considers his profession to be akin to the entertainment industry, with himself as an A-list star in the field. But that was the only time it was used. References to the '20s ("Roxy's dress is really a flapper dress; there are references to gangsters like . Even vaudeville has its own spin on sharing these stories. She was known for having a performing act with her sister Veronica, but she killed her husband and her sister after finding them together. Hugh Jackman was apparently offered the role, but declined due to him thinking that he was too young. And even folks who never attended law school can tell how he managed to defend Roxie Hart. Hayden McAllister, a junior who plays Billy Flynn, watched several productions of Chicago to help him prepare for his role. Arrogant and self-centered, she rebuffs the admiration and adulation that Roxie gave her. After Roxie murders her lover Fred Casely, whom she was committing adultery with, she hears about what Billy Flynn did for another murderess, the infamous Velma Kelly, and he becomes her lawyer. There is no effort to take such a case seriously and this treatment goes on throughout the show. Some things havent changed indeed. He makes it interesting. Velma is supposed to be a singing and dancing star, and Zeta-Jones delivers with glamor, high style and the delicious confidence the world forces on you when you are one of its most beautiful inhabitants. Richard Gere is Billy Flynn, the slick, high-priced attorney who boasts he can beat any rap, for a $5,000 fee. The all-black costumes (think of your GCSE drama class performances) and disappointingly simple set (they manage to rustle up some confetti for Duncan James rendition of Razzle Dazzle, but thats about as fun as it gets) unintentionally reveals the fragile illusion of glamour that the characters ofChicago have consumed. Chicago is still playing on Broadway and returns to London's West End this spring, after a six-year hiatus, with Cuba Gooding Jr as Billy Flynn, the lawyer who defends both women. Billy Flynn became a lawyer for two reasons: a) the money, and b) because people are schmucks, as easily fooled as children.Living at the top of 1920s Chicago society. It's not all breakneck production numbers, but it's never far from one. Ring of Keys: Lyrics from Fun Home The Musical, Chicago The Musical lyrics: Cell Block Tango. Eddie George was in his dressing room at the Ambassador Theater on Tuesday night, a Heisman Trophy winner and former star N.F.L. stream During the song, Roxie Hart (Gwen Verdon) enters and pauses just long enough to . Most versions got it right. Only Billy Flynn (Gere) can pull off a trick like that, although his price is high and he sings a song in praise of his strategy ("Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle"). She even bragged it to Mama Morton. The multi-platinum. Vocal Part: Bass-Baritone. Chicago. account. Billy Flynn has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues circuit since the mid-80's. It was the Hollywood film version that suggested that. Now comes word they'll be adding a plus one . Otherwise, she is at best Flynns puppet because being a lawyer includes teaching your client what to say to the media and in court. Just click Like on our official Facebook page, MusicalsOnline.com, and follow us on Twitter @musicalsnews. (}1({SZW+]U|x musical villains mashup // 20+ shows ???? Our Picks for The 2019/20 Season: K-12 Edition Felicia Lucas April 23, 2019. Typical Chicago cop who has been through this kind of thing many times. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. He could have easily taken the fall for his wifes crime if not for his wifes idiocy. Upgrade to PRO Sign Up for PRO to view suggested audition pieces! You know why? Since she has lied far enough to prolong her newfound fame, she then faked a pregnancy. Grew up in cynical times. The undefeated lawyer, Billy Flynn was originally Velma Kellys lawyer. She doesnt have the brain. By day, Roxie cleans, cooks and washes- but by night, she frequents Chicago's notorious jazz clubs with her lover, Fred Casely. In the original Broadway version of the musical, he was portrayed by the late Jerry Orbach, who also played Sa'Luk in Disney's Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and King . Seeking 2 Actor Team for Spring Billy to Roxie before singing We both reached for the gun.Shut up dummy. Flynn has staying power. But are the women in this story really triumphant? . But some things never change maybe because Kander and Ebb found a way to glamorize a story about sex, violence corruption and all things we hold near and dear. He was made to believe that Roxie is pregnant with his kid. Sometimes you are more interested in the lawyers showmanship than whether the accused deserved to be convicted or not. Chicago (2002) Richard Gere as Billy Flynn. Velma Kelly and her sister Veronica had a double-act at "The Onyx", but one night before their show Velma caught her husband Charlie in the act with her sister Veronica, so she . She is actually innocent, but because she only speaks Hungarian and refuses to plead guilty, she is found guilty and hanged. The Phantom of the Opera: What Was the Monkey Music Box For? character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works Get Access. That's one thing he can manage to be honest about. The film has budget on its side, and you would be forgiven for buying into the razzle dazzle; but the comparative shabbiness of the showcurrently running at the Phoenix Theatre, London, undermines the audiences ability to suspend their disbelief. The movie stars sweet-faced Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, who kills her lover and convinces her husband to pay for her defense; and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, who broke up her vaudeville sister act by murdering her husband and her sister while they were engaged in a sport not licensed for in-laws. The director Rob Marshall, a stage veteran making his big screen debut, paces the film with gusto. The Road To Chicago. You cant beat fresh blood on the walls.Personality confident and cunning. Roxie Hart is the main protagonist of the musical Chicago and all of its adaptations. Maybe because it has worked before. Surely enough, he has other clients too but in the case of Velma, she can work her own wonders into putting her face on the front page for everyone to gawk at. On both stage and screen, Roxie and Velma salvage their meagre existence after prison when they come together, putting aside their instincts to compete with each other in order to dazzle twice as much as a double act. The guns got used in Roxies scene and in the heiresss scene. The decision to use non-singers and non-dancers is always controversial in musicals, especially in these days when big stars are needed to headline expensive productions. She kills her boyfriend in her apartment after coming home and finding him with two girls. This story, lightweight but cheerfully lurid, fueled Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb's original stage production of "Chicago," which opened in 1975 and has been playing somewhere or other ever after--since 1997 again on Broadway. Sarcastic, sexy, tough, funny. Connor McClung, a senior who plays Amos Hart, says "playing Amos is a balancing act, because he is upset most of the time. Change Photo Log Report Last Update: 1 week ago. Nor about Billy Flynn. Roxie is not very bright and never thinks about the consequences of her actions before she says or does things, but She will does whatever it takes to be a huge star. <> As the best lawyer in town, Billy is just as big a celebrity as any of the glitzy, glamorous jazz singers. Who would have thought the minimalist presentation of a musical would experience as many revivals as it is now? Through the characters nave faith in the glitz of fame, coupled with lawyer Billy Flynns (Richard Gere) impressive courtroom tap dancing (and casual objectification of women), the film makes a clear comparison between showbiz and the legal system. Velma has already captured the attention of newspaper readers, but after the poor sap Amos pays Billy his fee, a process begins to transform Roxie into a misunderstood heroine. Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives fave Billy Flynn (Chad) and his wife, actress Gina Comparetto. William Flynn is a fictional character from the 1926 play Chicago, written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, and its various derivative works and remakes. Notificarme los nuevos comentarios por correo electrnico. And of course, Roxie Hart, the heart (pun intended) for the murder case that Flynn has spun into a media spectacle. WhenChicago was first adapted into a Broadway musical by John Kander,Fred Ebb, andBob Fosse, each musical number was written in the vaudeville style. Though we hear lyrics of independence and self-sufficiency, the song feels like a lament. "If Jesus Christ had lived in Chicago," he explains, "and if he'd had $5,000, and had come to me--things would have turned out differently." Billy Flynn. (To be sure, Gere's own tap dancing is on the level of performers in the Chicago Bar Association's annual revue). New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. In rare cases, such as Roxie Hart's, he will take a discount rate in exchange for a cut of proceeds from selling ephemera and media rights fees related to the case. Billy Flynn has been a mainstay on the Chicago blues circuit since the mid-80's. In a typical set he'll segue from sophisticated Texas jump blues into raw Delta or postwar-Chicago style sounds. The 2002 movie Chicago was adapted from Bob Fosse's 1975 Broadway musical, Chicago. Amos is not very good looking and he is not very Smart. Find out how you match to him and 5500+ other characters. And jail never tempered her need to be on the papers for the sake of remaining relevant. Chicago Character Descriptions V E L MA KE L L Y : F e ma l e , 2 5 -4 0 (Ra n g e : Al to , E 3 -D5 ) V a u d vi l l e p e rf o rme r wh o i s a ccu se d o f mu rd e ri n g h e r si st e r a n d h u sb a n d . A nalyst: Upon moving to Los Angeles, Flynn landed a job as an analyst at Warner Bros. Studios. If the accused managed to bring in the drama too and ended up coming across as funny instead, you realize the kind of credibility and believability found in this musical. Billy Gardell plays Chicago police officer Mike who starts attending an Overeaters Anonymous group to lose weight where he meets soulmate Molly. Teachers are striking - and its about time. So does "Chicago," and Barrett can offer a reason. These are women who are repeatedly manipulated, cheated on, dismissed and abused by the men in their lives. The whole world its all show business. Billys not concerned with whether hes following the spirit of the law, so long as he wins the case. Musicals; . Prior to Mike & Molly, Gardell was known for playing another cop - Jeff Hoyne - on My Name Is Earl and is currently starring in another Chuck Lorre sitcom, Bob Hearts . Whether Roxie Hart is already a spotlight hog before she met Billy Flynn or not, meeting Billy Flynn helped spark that fame whore in her. The Hungarian girl. Plays the judge in the courtroom scene. Its already 2015. Tu direccin de correo electrnico no ser publicada. When we support each other, believe each other, and raise up our voices together,thenwe truly triumph. Musicals usually rely on the memorable songs to induce several incidents of last song syndrome (LSS). September 13, 2020. Velma Kelly is one of the main characters of the musical Chicago. We meet Roxie Hart, married early and unwisely, to Amos Hart (John C. Reilly), a credulous lunkhead. v Yl`t@GVL;yaX 2?m[-"rfi07G,C_x;J`'.1sd(S!l9F72D"Zr'% 1.O2be'.o1AHrb Rca4z%{M0AW#?F2qNA% ,1*1sL,#_!bD,G L$j3M9XRfA_\KL7+Ia~ELSfiZUSC. Tom Hewitt is currently . The singer/songwriter known for songs like "Hip to Be Square," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," and "I Want a New Drug" played Billy Flynn in . what happened to 21 savage on july 8 2009. marlin 1898 stock; pat swilling house new orleans; nixon strong baseball tournament; what are infractions in discord; truverse property management des moines, iowa; tess from raven's home pregnant. Results may vary. to read our character analysis for Billy Flynn and unlock other amazing theatre resources! Velma is in it for the fame. In our version this person will be performed by a member from the band. Nice try extending her 15 minutes of fame, sucker. Real friendship between women barely exists inChicago, and the main characters scheme against each other and refuse to make connections that arent based on personal gain. We stand wi, "Beginning is at once a masterful composition of observational comedy, and an incredibly moving commentary on moder, Misinformation and lack of knowledge often turn our bodily fluids into a taboo. The reason is that it isn't about Roxie. . Ha rd e n e d b y f a me , Whenever the accused stands trial, dramatic histrionics come into play, the defendant learns how to act (sounds familiar) and the lawyer ends up turning into a scriptwriter, director, agent and press release spinner all in one. He puts Roxie in jail. In the musical, Flynn sings three songs. Fred Ebb His love of acting began as a child. And she found a way to make a bad situation work out for her like realizing how she can be the toast of the town despite being in jail which brings us to the next factor that made this musical such a hit. Luckily, hes in the perfect town for sensational murders. Thanks for reading. She is the best reporter in all Illinois. Billy Flynn said it best too Its showbiz!. Nothing is taken seriously from the murders to the trials. Do me a little favor, darling. Afterwards he happily leaves Roxie to fend for herself, again showing that he never cared about her in the slightest. Her best attempts at intelligence are only apparent because her husband, Amos, is dumber than her. Despite the uncomfortable way in which our social media punitive system can manifest (thanks to the brevity of public attention and tendency to accept headlines as representative of a whole), one thing remains true: we cannot rely on the system for justice, particularly when it comes to holding men accountable for their treatment of women. A master manipulator, Billy knows just how and when to sound sincere for maximum effect. Velma and Roxie have learned the hard way that not even fellow women will support them in an individualistic age, in which womens success depends on fierce competitiveness for the limelight. running back about to step onstage for his Broadway . She is an aspiring actress who gets into trouble with the law after murdering a man she was having an affair with and enlists the help of Billy Flynn to get her out of jail and into spotlight as a star She was portrayed by Gwen Verdon in the 1975 musical, and by Rene Zellweger in its 2002 film adaptation .