Wopat says the cynicism 'plays so well in today's political climate.'
By JOHN BENSON
What does it say about America that over 30 years after "Chicago" opened on Broadway, its revival continues to be one of the more popular traveling productions around?
Veteran stage and television star Tom Wopat, who returns to his role as hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn in "Chicago," which comes to Youngstown from Monday through Wednesday at Powers Auditorium, thinks he knows why.
"When it was first out in the '70s, it was not quite as timely as when they revived it in the '90s," said Wopat, calling from New York City. "Since the '90s, you've had everything from Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson to O.J. [Simpson] and Martha Stewart. There have been a ton of celebrity hearings and trials, and it just rings such a bell. The cynicism of it plays so well in today's political climate."
The 1975 play, which was revived on Broadway in 1996 and became an Academy Award-winning 2002 feature film, details two murderesses and manipulative lawyer Flynn. The cunning attorney turns their stories into front-page fodder with murder, greed, corruption, violence and exploitation creating Court TV-esque salaciousness.
'Live for today'
"I think it's fairly amoral," Wopat said. "If anything, the moral of the story is to live for today. In 'All That Jazz,' they say 50 years from now stuff will all be different but right now things are the way they are so let's enjoy them."
It's pretty much the same notion that keeps bringing Wopat back to "Chicago."
"Money," Wopat said, laughing. "Actually it's a part I'm really comfortable with, and we kind of have a deal where I've been in and out of the show several times both on Broadway and on the road. It's just something I have a real comfort level with, and what it comes down to is it's a nice way to make a living. Plus, I enjoy most of the towns I go to."
He added, "I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and milked cows for eight years when I was a kid. I understand that mentality and respect the fact that those people are really the backbone of the country. So that resonates with me, and I respond to that."
Career
Naturally, Wopat is best-known for his role as good ol' boy Luke Duke on the late '70s and early '80s television action show "The Dukes of Hazzard." However, his career is quite varied, including a recent role in Broadway productions of "Glengarry Glen Ross," "42nd Street" and "Annie Get Your Gun." The latter role earned him a Tony Award nomination. Even though he's also enjoyed a successful recording career, it's the stage — and specifically in "Chicago" — where he feels at home.
Having recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, the Tony Award-winning "Chicago," which is Broadway's longest-running revival, continues to attract audiences who enjoy its universal themes and unforgettable songs.
"It's a terrific show, and it's become a little bit of an icon," Wopat said. "And the thing about it is, this is one of those musicals that travels very well. If you see this show with the cast on the road or you come to New York City and see it in the theater, it wouldn't be markedly different. The quality of performance is extremely high in this [touring] production."
He added, "As far as getting a Broadway experience in the middle of the country, you can't do much better than this."