Although this book (which is based on a movie, which is based on a musical) can't sing or dance, it comes darn well close enough to providing the oohs and aahs of going to see Chicago
on the big screen. The smash hit movie has paved the way to a stunner of a book that simultaneously pays tribute to and explains the intricacies of Rob Marshall's showstopper. In his introduction, the director explains, "Musical theater is American-born, and it's our form. When musicals are done beautifully... it seems completely organic and convincing that people can sing and dance while telling their stories. When musicals are done right, they lift you in a way that no other form can. And that's why I love them so." The gorgeous photos in the book are uplifting indeed: there's Richard Gere as lawyer Billy Flynn, surrounded by scantily clad vaudeville showgirls in fishnets; there's Chicago's fictitious, sparkling Onyx Theater, balconies aglow; there's the voluptuous Queen Latifa, draped in gold and shimmying across the stage as Mama Morton. The book shares profiles of Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucy Liu and other stars of the film; historical vignettes of the real-life murderesses who inspired the characters; and essays on the costumes and set design. And then there's the screenplay, containing the movie's song lyrics and spoken lines. It's a marvelous package: flashy, informative and sure to "razzle dazzle 'em." (Apr.)
