Denise Van Outen at her BarEST (Chicago)

Member Name: Izak

Product:	Chicago
Date:	27/07/01 (369 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: witty, original, great music + dance

Disadvantages: a bit bizzare for the light hearted

I have never been a great fan of musicals, I try to avoid going to them as much as possible, and before I saw Chicago, to me it was merely a boring musical that needed avoiding. It was far from that. It turned out to be a hilarious, original, well constructed, acted and played masterpiece, full of women in little more than black lingerie!

The basis of the play is to mock the typical play by the famous playwright, .... whose name I ashamedly cant remember right now (please tell me if you can) The play's crude plot is based on the constant focus of attention in the state Chicago, which EVERYONE wants. Denise Van Outen - previously underestimated by myself - plays a desperate married American who kills her lover who she is having an affair with, for cheating on her! She acts and sings surprisingly well, as well as exposing her long long legs! The orchestra are on the stage throughout playing fantastically, taking up most of it, but they become part of the play, and the conductor also has the odd, amusing line. The film continues with the woman and her agent/ lawyer, who tries to get her out of trouble, as well as into full attention from the press. Her sister, however, also wants attention, as well as several other women in the story, resulting in a witty, constant fighting of the women, to be the center of attention, the "star." The scenes are played in a surreal, but original, and funny way, weaving with the music, over the top with acting and presentation, as if to mock the thin stories of the musicals by...what’s-his-face. Another mocking is displayed by having ALL the women dressed very scantily, in black lingerie, to please the male viewers, and to add to add to the bizzarity of it all.

The music, singing and dancing are also exceptional. Songs from "all that Jazz", to "Mr. Cellophane" are played in an original impressive and funny way, giving ever onlooker a big fat smile.

I recommend this fil
m to just about anyone who likes a good show, good music + dance, especially couples. Not one for the children though, they wouldn't get the humour, and would get little...confused...from seeing so much bare female flesh. "The lion king" is definitely a better one for the kiddies!

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