Pittwater Life September 2019 Issue

Tom’s in like Flynn for
Sydney run of Chicago
It’s been almost 15 years
since Tom Burlinson
last performed in a
musical production but
the acclaimed Newport
entertainer says he’s excited
to be tackling the role of
iconic character Billy Flynn
in the current Sydney run
of the multi-award winning,
record-breaking ‘Chicago’ at
the Capitol Theatre.
Burlinson said he was
approached to play the role
of cunning and charismatic
lawyer Flynn by co-producer
John Frost after an actor
who had played the role in
London’s West End and on
Broadway was unexpectedly
unable to come to Australia
for the production.
In particular he’s looking
forward to once again
combining the ‘trinity’ of
performing talents – acting,
singing and dancing –
although he’s somewhat
grateful his character
doesn’t require too much of
the latter.
“Really not that much,
thankfully – I call it
‘moving to music’ rather
than dancing as far as
I’m concerned,” he tells
Pittwater Life. “But of
course, there is fabulous
dancing in the show
performed by the two
leading ladies, as well as the
fine ensemble.”
Performing alongside
Burlinson are Natalie
Bassingthwaighte, as the
irreverent and determined
Roxie Hart, and musical
theatre star Alinta Chidzey,
as the empowered and
glamorous Velma Kelly.
Much-adored Casey
Donovan plays the tough
and sassy prison warden,
Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.
“It’s been 15 years since
I combined the skills
of acting, singing and
dancing in a musical (‘The
Producers’) and I’m very
much looking forward to
performing with the multitalented
cast in one of the
masterpieces of modern
musical theatre.”
As for how he’s portraying
Billy, Tom said his character
was very smart, charming
and successful – although
his true intentions were not
always what they appeared
to be.
“It’s always challenging
and interesting to portray
complex characters like
him,” Tom said.
“I will bring a relatively
new approach to the role if
only because it’s my face,
my physicality, my voice and
my choices of interpretation
within the guidelines of the
script, score and direction
given by the creative
professionals from overseas
who have helped us learn
the show.”
He added he was wellgrounded
in the origins of
the production, which would
help his performance.
“I saw the first Australian
production in the early
1980s, and other major
productions in 1998 and
2008, so I’ve seen Billy
played by Terry Donovan,
John Diedrich and Craig
McLachlan,” he said. “And of
course, I also saw the movie
in which Billy was played by
Richard Gere.”
Burlinson’s incredible
performing career has
spanned over 40 years and
he has been a fixture on
Australian stages, films
and television since his
breakthrough big screen role
in the iconic ‘The Man from
Snowy River’.
His musical credits include
‘The Producers’, ‘Miracle
City’ and ‘How to Succeed
in Business Without Really
Trying’; in recent years he
has spent most of his time
on the stage, having created
and toured with many music
shows including ‘Frank – A
Life in Song’, ‘Now we’re
Swingin!’, ‘Young at Heart’
(with Melinda Schneider),
‘Swing That Music’ with
(Emma Pask, Ed Wilson and
The Sydney All Star Big
Band) and ‘Great American
Songbook’. – Nigel Wall
* Chicago The Musical
is now showing at the
Capitol Theatre (ends
Sunday October 20); tickets
ticketmaster.com.au
SONG AND DANCE: Newport’s Tom
Burlinson plays Billy Flynn in Chicago.
SEPTEMBER 2019 61
Showtime