Anyone who is interested in musicals, dance or just theatre, needs to see this tour of Chicago. This show massively revolves around Bob Fosse choreography and is definitely one for the fans of breathy jazz numbers.
It is based around the raunchy 1920’s jazz nightlife. With beautiful women making poor life decisions involving adultery and murder. With great numbers like Cell Block Tango (which I like to refer to as menopausal women taking revenge on annoying husbands), All That Jazz and the enchanting Mister Cellophane, you honestly will want to tap your toe along to the whole show.
I love that the staging is so simple and the set never changes. You have the large, gold rimmed, black band stand taking up the majority of the stage giving the audience constant access to the band and it’s sexy saxophone moments. The props are few, but impactful. A lot of the time it’s just a chair or a ladder making the scene though at times you are dazzled by feathers or a simple pair of white gloves on an otherwise dull monochrome scene. It really is a musical that let’s the story and the unusual choreography do most the work.
That being said, this cast is full of extremely experienced actors from both stage and screen and it’s with no doubt that this simple feeling production is given a lot of its magic by the brilliant dance talents and well timed comedy moments that they confidently provide.
We have Strictly Come Dancing’s very own Jeanette Manrara taking on the role of Roxie (A woman who seduces her way in and out of trouble) and the beautiful jazz tones of DjalengaScott playing Velma Kelly. I especially enjoyed Scott’s version of I Can’t Do It Alone.
Stand out performance of the night was definitely Loose Women’s Brenda Edwards asMatron ‘Mama’ Morton. Her rendition of When You’re Good To Mama was absolutely brilliant and her duet later in Act 2 with Scott was an gorgeous example of two strong female musical voices combining to give the most perfect sound.
Joshua Lloyd had the whole auditorium willing him on and giving him all the panto style “Aaahhhhs” as he played the lovable role of a neglected and invisible Amos Hart. Infact the audience were great last night at WMC and it was clear that everyone was enjoying this latest version of Chicago.
If you want to join all the other jazz hand junkies and get your Fosse fix, then you have until May 10th to head to Wales Millennium Centre and see it.
Age guidance: 12+ (no under 2s)
Contains flashing/strobe lights, pyrotechnics and bangs.
Start time:
Mon – Sat 7.30pm
Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Running time: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes (including one interval)
