Jordan and Matron “Mama” Morton
Jordan and “Mama” Morton are not the main characters in their shows, and unlike the other characters neither is trying to steal the spotlight from the main lead (Daisy or Roxie). Instead, each is just sitting back and watching the whole show unfold. Jordan watches Daisy’s drama between having two different men and two different life choices to choose one, and she doesn’t get involved in it; she just watches, sly as a cat, and listens to everything that goes on. Mama is the same way, watching Velma take her claws out on Roxie and egging each on to the other, and then just sits back and watches the drama play out. Both women are also similar in the fact that they are both dishonest. Jordan cheats in golf and is not ashamed of it; Mama takes money from the prisoners for extra little “favors” and even then offers lower prices to her favorites and higher prices to others. She, too, is not ashamed of her dishonesty and is quite happy with her little side business she has going on with the prisoners. The women are different, however, in the way that they interact with the drama they watch and what they do when it happens. While Jordan watches all the drama unfold, she wants no part in it whatsoever. She is curious about it and wants to know what is going on, such as when she hushes Nick to listen in on Daisy and Tom when Myrtle calls: “I was about to speak when she sat up alertly and said ‘Sh!’ in a warning voice. A subdued impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond, and Miss Baker leaned forward unashamed, trying to hear.” But whenever she is caught up in the drama, she immediately closes off and wants to get out as soon as possible: “At this point Jordan and I tried to go, but Tom and Gatsby insisted with competitive firmness that we remain…” Although “Mama” Morton does not directly get involved with the drama, she eggs Roxie and Velma on. As each girl vents to her, she quietly listens with a smile and then gives her advice which usually just makes the girl talking to her even madder at the other…basically, egging them on. The director creates Mama's character as a dishonest yet vibrant woman through yellow-orange-red lighting that resembles fire and having her sing a seductive song: "When You're Good to Mama". She does play a hand in Roxie and Velma's drama, but a small one; and when her part is done, she sits back and enjoys the view as the drama plays out.