Director: Walter Bobby

Lyrics: Fred Ebb

Music: John Kander

Musical Director: Adrian Kirk

Choreographer: Anne Reinking

Reviewer: Maureen Hylands

The Public Reviews Rating:

The murder-laden Chicago winds blow over Southend shores to drop intrigue, sex and 1920s hot-shot dancing in bursts of razza-mazz-tazz jazz-filled exuberance. Its beautifully performed choreography heavily sprinkled with the Bob Fosse magic, evokes the jazz age perfectly yet also lures us away from the greed and wickedness so prevalent of the age. Its overiding message- that money can buy anything and everything, even unlocking death cell doors.

Two beautiful women, Roxie Hart (Chloe Ames) and Velma Kelly (Tupele Dorgu) are both guilty of murdering their men. Both hold a vicious determination to beat the death sentence with the help of two-faced lawyer, a silver-tongued charmer with no equal. Jail is no hindrance to their desperate plans for freedom.

Dorgu left the Corrie cobbles and is more than worthy of being named chic-a-go. And go she does. Smart, sassy, her Velma is a great mover who goes for what she wants.

Chloe Ames, who at the last minute played Roxie, has just the right amount of vulnerability, her dancing and personality both strong. The pair of them are very believable, as their tragedies slowly drawing them together as one and finally getting them both what they want – success.

Stefan Booth (Billy Flynn) easily captures the debonair charm which hides his manipulating ways so well. One you love to hate, and one you certainly wouldn’t take home to meet your mother.

A special mention goes to Jamie Baughanj’s Amos Hart, the weak, too nice a husband for Roxie, who really tears at the heartstrings with his rendition of Mr Cellophane. Not overplayed and perfectly timed.

Bernie Nolan’s  Matron ‘Mama’ Morton comes across as rather too nice for a prison Matron. A little more hardness would have given a sharper edge to her character, especially in that powerful number ‘When You’re Good To Mama’

Sadly the sound balance isn’t good, with much of the singing lost – though the band sounds wonderful. The unchanging all black set could benefit from a few ‘pops’ of colour now and then as everything, including most costumes, are black, which soon loses the impressive opening scene impact. Perhaps a little more lighting would also help, the all cast line-ups lit by harsh overhead spots don’t do the cast any favours and distort their faces.

Runs till Sat March 3rd and continues to tour

 

Tags: Adam Salter, Alex Weatherhill, Ashley Rumble, Bernie Nolan, Chloe Ames. Claire Rogers, Claire Rogers, Cliffs Pavilion, Daniel Arbisi, Dominic Lamb, Genevieve Nicole, Gregor Stewart, Ian Oswald, Jamie Baughan, Jennifer Hilton, Kate Morris, Melanie Cripps, Nick Blair, Southend, Stefan Booth, Tupele Dorgu