Chicago

Originally produced on Broadway in 1975  and the West End of London in 1979, then revived  in 1996 and a year later in London, the American musical Chicago has music by John Kander, and  lyrics by Fred Ebb, taken from the book by Ebb and Bob Fosse and is based on a 1926 play of the same name by  Maurine Dallas Watkins. It is the longest-running musical revival on both Broadway and the West End winning six Tonys, two Oliviers and a Grammy award. The show is set in 1920’s  Chicago in what was known as the Jazz Age and looks at the phenomenon called the "celebrity criminal", it  is also a comment and a satire on the corruption in the Chicago criminal justice system of the time. The story centres on two women Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart who are awaiting trial for murder in the County jail and the competition that ensues between them to be front page news, which will hopefully influence the outcome of the trial and their career prospects after. In the end both Velma and Roxy are acquitted and decide the best option for their future is to go into partnership and form a touring sister act.
This show is full of high energy and sultry performances, it has big vocal numbers and needs wonderful dynamic choreography, things that this superb production from Adlington Music & Art Society had in abundance, all under the exceptional direction of Jackie Creer.

The three female leads were full of confidence giving outstanding polished performances, Bex Dixon played  the Vampy and swaggering night club and vaudeville performer, Velma Kelly, who was accused of murdering her husband and sister when she catches them having an affair. She is sent to the Cook County Jail where with the help of Mama Morton she hires well known and successful defense lawyer, Billy Flynn. While Velma waits for her trial in jail  she is treated as a celebrity  as her story is on all the front pages of the newspapers, that is until ambitious Roxie Hart played by Sarah Howarth comes into the picture,  a small time dancer who shoots her lover and also hires  lawyer, Billy Flynn and replaces Velma as the star celebrity of the jail. But when her position is threatened she invents a mythical pregnancy to keep her case on the front pages. Completing the trio was Diane Simmons who took on the role of Matron Mama Morton, Warden  of the Cook County Jail who arranges favours for payment, she is a savvy mother figure who knows all the best angles. All three were spot on in their roles singing and dancing superbly, with loads of energy, they were just very enjoyable to watch.
Ian Hawyes was just right, producing a strong performance in the role of charismatic lawyer Billy Flynn and Philip May was very touching as Roxie’s cuckolded husband, Amos, giving a moving rendition of the song Mr Cellophane, the audience liked this character very much. Mary Sunshine, played by Zee Thornley was a newspaper reporter, who reported on both Velma and Roxie’s trials and there was a big reveal towards the end of the show when it turned out Mary was a man, Zee made a very good female character and manage to produce some nice female mannerisms.  
Generally accents were spot on and diction and projection were good meaning dialogue was heard and understood easily. Also the pace of the show was spot on.

The iconic number, “Cell Block Tango” performed by Velma and the five merry murderesses was first class and one of the many highlights of the show, the murderesses included, Rebecca Crookson as Liz, Jennie Miller as Hunyak. Heather Hodgson as June, Kimberley Barker as Annie and Charli Bradbury as Mona. The actors in the smaller cameo roles and the ensemble supported the principle cast  very well and all performed the dynamic choreography by Heather Hodgson  superbly as one, I could not see anyone out of time and the singing was very enjoyable, they  appeared to put everything into their performance. The outstanding onstage band led by Musical Director Dave Dossett were an interracial part of the show, supporting the cast and giving plenty of opportunity for interaction with the actors on stage. 
Invention and imagination was at the heart of the show's set, as scenes were changed by using chairs, and some prison bars which change the stage area into  murder scenes, courtrooms,  and prison cells . Technical input was good although personally I thought the lighting was a little dark at times  but that is just my personal opinion. The costumes were very effective the majority of which were purple instead of the usual all black and there were different styles for each person, which looked  good and suited the cast really well.
Well done to all the backstage crew, and everyone working on this show for all your hard work and bringing this outstanding production to the stage, thank you very much for inviting us.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.