Chicago is a musical which the world has adored for many
years. Brought to the masses in the Academy Award winning film (2002) starring
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellwegger and Richard Gere, this show is all about
murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery…all those
things we hold near and dear to our hearts… and so begins the international
award winning Broadway and West End musical, Chicago!
Originally choreographed, directed and written by Bob Fosse (1927-1987),
this musical is renowned for its super clean-cut movement, energy and
choreography. Movements like the twirling of a finger, the batting of an eyelid,
the dipping of a shoulder in sequences and various combinations, as Fosse
envisioned, make this show truly unique.
This touring cast is very impressive indeed. In a TV soap
lover’s dream, this show stars Hayley Tamaddon (Emmerdale, Coronation Street)
as Roxie Hart, John Partridge (Eastenders) as Billy Flynn and Jessie Wallace
(Eastenders) as Mama Morton. Tamaddon is all-round excellent, Partridge is
charismatic and impressive, and Wallace exceeded all expectations in this meaty
role. In the role of Velma Kelly is the less known Sophie Carmen-Jones who is
undoubtedly the star of the show. The ensemble are incredibly strong,
particularly the six “merry-murderesses” who are all fabulous, with special
mentions to Emily Warner and Chelsea Labadini for their outstanding dancing.
The orchestra are featured in the middle of the stage on an elevated
platform, and can be seen throughout the entirety of the show. They are lead by
the most charismatic Musical Director of all time – Leon Charles, who conducted
the most enthusiastic ent’acte and curtain call of all time. It was nothing
short of epic and has to be seen to be believed. However, while Charles is a
wonderful silver lining, there is still a dark cloud present… Due to the
placement of the orchestra, the stage is not used to its full potential. There
is creative use of ladders on either side, but other than that, this show does
feel stunted and quite static. Similarly, while I’m fully aware Chicago isn’t a
“costume” show (i.e. Phantom of the Opera and its Masquerade, or Wicked with
One Short Day), besides a few feather fans and a pair of gloves, the black mesh
and lace outfits were all … well… a little bit boring. The spectacle I was expecting
just never arrived.
While the cast of this show are good, this show left much to
be desired as it all felt a little tired. The “hot-cha”, “woopie”, and all that
jazz which makes this show so spectacular does fall flat in this tour, and I left
disappointed. It has some fantastic moments, and the vocals are great, but as a
fully fledged touring musical with the kind of reputation it’s earned, I
expected a lot more.
If you'd have been there, if you'd have seen it, I betcha you would have said the same!
Review by Harriet Langdown
Rating: ★★★
