Fishnets, murder, greed and all that jazz! (Chicago)

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Product:	Chicago
Date:	07/11/01 (71 review reads)
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Advantages: Alison Moyet, Anita Louise Combes, Leigh Zimmerman

Disadvantages: You may see Cats instead!

Chicago the musical is undergoing a brand new lease of life at the moment. The combined 'bums on seats' appeal of Denise Van Outen and Alison Moyet has meant that more people are seeing Chicago than ever before. Denise has since gone to maybe star in the Broadway version but Alison Moyet is still on board but is Chicago any good?

Well, let's begin with the opening line of the show:

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen- you are about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery. All those things we hold dear."

None the wiser? Well- put it this way Chicago is not your tradtional musical built on the notion of true love. Think about past hits of the stage- Grease, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, - each has a love story running through the core. Hence, their soundtracks have featured love songs a plenty for the audience to hum. What's so refreshing about Chicago is that the humour and the tone is very black, indeed.

Roxie Hart (Anita Louise Combe) is up on a murder charge. She has killed her lover and used her charms to persuade her husband that it was self defence. It is the late 1920's - Chicago, Illinois. Women are repressed but there is a strong undercurrent which is gradually bubbling to the surface. Sisters are not only doin it for themselves, they're murdering for themselves! Roxie becomes the darling of the press and the public. Journalists want her story, women want to be her and other murderesses on trial want her dead!

Velma Kelly (Leigh Zimmerman)is Roxie's main rival. Also up for murder, this foxy seductress has the wit and the glamour but seems to be in yesterday's tabloids. Will the two women team up or will they fight it out for all to see? Mamma Morton (Alison Moyet) looks after all her ladies who are on trial. She takes Roxie uner her wing, all the while heeding Velma's advice and suspicions that Roxie is a fake.


Now, this may not sound like a 'cosy' musical and it isn't. Chicago is so much more. The legendary Bob Fosse was one of Broadway's biggest stars. Chicago was created in 1975 with such love and painstaking detail that what you see on stage today is a labour of love. Think of Liza Minnelli in Cabaret, or Shirley MacLaine in Sweet Charity and this will give you some of the ingredients of Chicago. Add a dash of Rocky Horror and you are left with a breathtaking musical which is not afraid to take risks or pander to the audience. If you take your nan- warn her - the stalls will not be alive with the sound of sweet music!

High kicking their way out of trouble and into the newspapers- Anita Louise Combe and Leigh Zimmerman are like Minnelli and Dietrich. They both represent women who are fed up with society and the lack of meaning in their lives. They long for passion and excitment. Their performances are so in yer face that the excitement really does transcend all around the theatre. They sure can move in a way that would make Bob Fosse very proud. Their singing voices combined with the irony in their delivery make them a double act to remember.

Alison Moyet astounds everyone as Mamma Morton. Okay, her accent is more "Dick Van Dyke" than Chicago- but her singing voice blows you away and you have to surrender to her talent. She has a future in musical theatre as her stage presence is evident in the fact thst her run has been extended and the audience warm to her immediately. Not for who she is but for her delivery as many of the Americans in the audience did not know her as a household name.

The dancing is superb. The whole cast perform in sinc with each other and seem to really enjoy being in such a sexy and dynamic show. Another major plus point is that not all the cast have Geri Halliwell bodies. Apart from a few pumped up people, many of the cast look like you or I and this is really encouraging as it proves that i
f you have the talent- you do not have to weigh 5 stone to get there.

The music is mesmerising. Never have I tapped my foot for so long- trying to sit still- in case I suddenly got the urge to leap on stage and take part! (what a sight that would be!). All That Jazz is one of many tunes that you will know and find yourself singing to. The band give it their all too and if you do see the show, make sure you stay till the very end as they do a great encore.

The set and costumes are both very minimal. The colour black connotes the colour of the humour and the cynical edge. The chairs remind you of Christine Keeler and her famous pose- reflecting the media circus that surrounds Roxie. The Orchestra are not hidden in the bowels of the theatre; they too are on stage. The costumes consist of leotards, lycra and fishnets and that's just the men! Only joking- the costumes are sexy as are the performers. They will seduce you into buying a programme in the interval!

Chicago is one of the West End's most glitering jewels in a very tarnished crown. If you saw Cats and could not see what the fuss was about (Miaow!) or fancied getting the train home during the opening minutes of Starlight Express then this could be just the ticket for you. Chicago is sexy, sassy and sublime but most of all it's the most fun you could have in a theatre with your clothes on.

END

Want a ticket:
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Need more info on this or any show?
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www.whatsonstage.com

Wanna see the official website?
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www.chicagothemusical.com



Thanks for reading,

Glenn

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