From Backstreet to Rat Pack
Less than two hours before Kevin Richardson takes the stage in the role of celebrity defense attorney Billy Flynn in Chicago: The Musical, the former Backstreet Boy is literally singing the praises of Dean Martin--his vocal inspiration for the part.
"Volare, oh, oh, Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh," he intones to The Daily Yomiuri backstage at ACT Theatre in Akasaka, Tokyo, the day before his 38th birthday last week, having already crooned lines from "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You" and "Memories are Made of This."
Having played the wily lawyer several times before--including a run in Tokyo two years ago--Richardson sees the King of Cool as a major influence.
"I tried to find my own things in [the role] but as far as the way he sings, Dean Martin was just a cool cat, he was my favorite Rat Pack guy--I listen to his music backstage before I go on," Richardson says, with the enthusiasm of a man who lists Martin as second only to Elvis Presley in the "Influences" section of his Facebook page.
Richardson's familiarity with Chicago: The Musical has given the affable Kentuckian an insight into Flynn, who could well have been modeled on Martin's stage persona.
"He's in control, he's powerful, he takes charge, he gets things done, he has confidence, he has a bit of an arrogant air to him and the entrance that I get, to come out with the girls singing, 'We want Billy,' that's the best, that's amazing," he said with a laugh.
Flynn's intro is certainly a high spot in this entertaining tale of 1920s Chicago, in which Velma Kelly (Terra C. MacLeod) and Roxie Hart (Bianca Marroquin) employ Flynn's services when they are each charged with murder and the city's media turn their cases into causes celebres.
Richardson said the story, written more than 30 years ago, is about "the way the game works--politics, the justice system and [how] people manipulate it and twist it.
"In some cases, the press takes advantage of people, but in this we manipulate the press. I think the press has grown more savvy, especially with all the tabloids and the paparazzi and stuff like that, but I think the story's very relevant."
The show's success is also built on popular numbers like "All That Jazz," "We Both Reached for the Gun" and "Funny Honey," but does Richardson ever long for the days of singing "I Want It That Way" or "Larger Than Life" with his fellow Backstreet Boys?
"I miss the camaraderie and the relationships with the guys...but I don't miss all the political battles and creative battles with the record label and all the politics involved--I don't miss that," he admitted.
When asked about a reunion, Richardson expressed some interest, though his former bandmates needn't worry about having to learn Dino's hit song, "That's Amore," just yet.
"I think it would be fun and, yeah, I would totally consider it, [but] that would be way down the line, because there's so much I want to try to accomplish and do in the acting world," he said.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features...09TDY14006.htm
Вначале не поняла, какого фига делают слова "поскаржитися" и "години" на американском сайте 
