Chicago

Following on from the artistic success of Jesus Christ Superstar last year, one wonders what Kelty Musical Association could do to follow that. The answer is, this production of Chicago.

From the opening music, MD Ross Hamilton and his thirteen piece band ensured that we were going to savour an evening to remember. The band, in their upstage, high level, location were in superb form on this, their opening night!

The cast were no less together and their enthusiasm spilled over at each and every appearance. Gary Gibb’s direction was thoughtful, novel in places, and showed a definite understanding of the musical. However, without wishing to cause a domestic incident!, I was even more delighted to watch Lynne Gibb’s extremely well-drilled choreography – it was a pleasure to view some out-of-the-ordinary moves, which were extremely accurately executed by both the dancers and indeed the whole cast at times.

Principal-wise, I can usually pick out my favourite performers in a show, and then have difficulty hiding any favouritism in my review! Tonight was an exception. The standard of principal work was exceedingly high. Velma (Vicky Sharp) and Roxie (Amy Elder) played so very well together both in singing and acting. Roxie’s vent puppet impersonation in “We Both Reached For The Gun” did ultimate justice to one of my favourite numbers in the show. Velma has the good fortune to be blessed with some of the finest numbers in the show, including “All That Jazz” and “I Can’t Do It Alone”, but none which would surpass her duet with Mama Morton (Rebecca Anderson) in “Class”. Rebecca brought out the sinister side of Mama Morton, whilst still offering a poignancy in the aforementioned song. Mark Grieve gave us a supremely confident performance as Billy Flynn, the smooth talking lawyer, while, at the other end of the scale, Darren Johnson as Amos Hart, tugged at the audience’s heart strings as the beleaguered, duped husband who finds great difficulty in making folks “notice him” (Mr Cellophane).

Minor principals Fred Casely (Fraser McLaughlin) and Mary Sunshine (Derek Walker) gave lovely performances. Derek’s drag act as the local reporter never faltering!

Finally, of course, we never forget the chorus – and how could we tonight! In fine voice and matching movement, together with the semi-chorus of Velma’s five accomplices in Cook County Jail, they rounded off a show to be proud of!

Well done Kelty Musical Association! Many thanks for the invite and the question is – “How do you top that next year?”

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