Chicago cuts tour short

The musical Chicago will cancel most of its China tour performances except for the shows in Beijing and Shanghai. Provided to China Daily

Chinese classic dance drama hits London stage

The tickle of Tango

The composer Kander used contemporary American music, such as ragtime jazz, to portray 1920s' Chicago. The original choreography by Bob Fosse, featuring jazz, tango and tap dance, preserves its sexiness after almost 40 years. Ten years ago, Joyway brought Chicago to China for the first time.

"We are doing it again after 10 years, partly to see how far urban culture and consumerism have developed in China," says Zhang Ligang, general manager of Joyway.

Not much has changed in China, except for Beijing and Shanghai, it seems.

"We have underestimated the complexity of musical productions touring in China," Wu says. Many of China's second- and third-tier cities have built brand-new theaters in the past few years, but they are still inadequate for large international shows, he says.

Hubei's provincial capital Wuhan and Xiamen in Fujian province canceled their legs of Chicago, in advance. When the cast arrived at Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, the stage setting was not ready, and they were not given enough time to do it properly.

As a result, a "trial performance" of a "concert edition" Chicago was presented in Fuzhou on Jan 6, when the actors performed the songs and dances onstage without props. Joyway canceled the shows planned for Chongqing, Qingdao and Jinan in Shandong province and Tianjin,

According to Jin Zhaojun, editor of People's Music magazine, the musical is still a new genre to most parts of China's live show market.

"It's expensive to see a musical production, and it will take some time before people fall in love with the musical theater," he says.

Every year quite a few Chinese original musical productions are made but "few of them achieve commercial success", he says.

Since Shanghai Culture Square opened in 2011, winter season musicals have become a regular presence in the city. Phantom was presented for two months before giving up the stage to Chicago.

According to the tour plan, 12 performances of Chicago will take place at Shanghai Culture Square in February.

IF YOU GO

7:30 pm, Jan 28 - Feb 1. Beijing Expo Theater, 135 Xizhimenwai Dajie (Street), Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6835-1383.

7:15 pm, Feb 4-9, 11-16. Shanghai Culture Square, 597 Fuxingzhong Lu (Road), Shanghai. 021-5461-9960.