Chicago

This company did not have their troubles to seek when putting on this production – trouble finding an MD, a principal taking ill and having to be replaced a few weeks before opening night and one of the leading ladies badly spraining an ankle. But as the old adage goes “the show must go on” and so it did – brilliantly! The two vaudevillian villainesses Roxie Hart (the injured Kathleen Irving-Lewis) and Velma Kelly (Elaine Stewart, in her first principal role) were both excellent actresses and singers whether in their solo numbers - “Roxie” or Velma’s “I Can’t Do It Alone” - or in their duets such as “My Own Best Friend”. Scott Gilmour as money-grabbing lawyer Billy Flynn was suitably sleazy and charming at the same time, with a good singing voice and nimble footwork as demonstrated in his renditions of “All I Care About” and “Razzle Dazzle. Michael Bell was truly believable as the down trodden Amos Hart – his rendition of “Mr Cellophane” was truly heart-rending. As well as being on stage Michael showed his versatility by being in the pit in charge of the Conductor’s baton for part of the performance! Kim Hamilton gave a very strong performance as Matron “Mama” Morton and I particularly liked her duet with Velma “Class”. Another strong performance was given by Glynis Tait as the reporter Mary Sunshine – the role she took on at just a few weeks notice. Strong support was given by Bobby Flett (Fred Casely) and Dominic Buttifant (Sergeant Fogarty). Mention too must be made of the girls involved in the intricately choreographed “Cell Block Tango” – Nyree Gunn, Katrina Tait, Emma Laughton, Helen Newton and Fiona Fraser. The ensemble singing and movement were of a high standard. Good use was made of the brick-walled, split level set representing the forbidding jail-house. Costuming was excellent and in keeping with the characters. The orchestra coped well with the changes in Conductor and gave excellent support to the singers. Congratulations to everyone at Kirkwall AOS for an excellent show!

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