Hall for Cornwall, Truro – until 26 April 2025
Reviewed by Kerry Gilbert
5*****
A Sizzling, Seductive and Sensational Show!
It was an absolute joy to review such an iconic show such as Chicago at the wonderful Hall for Cornwall. Upon arrival you could feel the excitement within the Cornwall Playhouse as we were greeted with a single black chair on stage with the spotlight zooming in on it! I was familiar with some of the music from this show but have never heard it performed on stage and the anticipation of what I was about to witness was evident. I was completely bowled over from the start, it was a sizzling, seductive and sensational show from start to finish!
“Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery” … and so it begins the multi-award-winning musical. Set amongst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she fools the public, the media and her rival cell mate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from the tabloids today. Chicago’s sexy, sassy score with one show-stopping song and another include ‘Razzle Dazzle’, ‘Mister Cellophane’ and ‘All That Jazz’. With jazz hands, sharp angles and hip thrust galore, it oozes sensuality while carrying of the show’s humour. Bombastic numbers like ‘We Both Reached For the Gun’ and ‘Cell Block Tango’ are particular highlights that left the audience erupting with applause. The staging for this production was minimalistic with the Jazz band prominently integrated into the action. Neil McDonald led the band with charisma, occasionally stepping into the role of compere as he introduced the cast. Costuming played a significant role in the show’s alure, immersing the audience into Chicago’s sultry world, lingerie, bowler hats and fishnet tights. The cast exuded confidence, strutting their way through the number in outfits that were undeniably sexy yet powerful.
Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara makes for a pleasant surprise as Roxy Hart. Balancing the cunning manipulator and wide-eyed naivete truly believing her murder will make her a star, Manrara makes Roxie’s character engaging as she learns a hard lesson on 15 minutes of fame whilst being a huge ball of energy going all out with the choreography.
Equally as compelling is Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly. Exuding class and refinement the moment she steps on stage, her showstopping ‘All That Jazz’ is only a taste of her abilities. Biting and razor-sharp, Scott makes Kelly easy to sympathise with her desperation to stay relevant on top of possessing powerhouse vocals and slickly carrying Bob Fosse’s original choreography.
Dan Burton plays the charismatic sleazeball Billy Flynn. Effortlessly swaying his way through his dance numbers, he carried a roguish charm to numbers such as ‘Razzle Dazzle’. Sinitta Malone plays a charming performance as prison warden Mama Morton, with her opener ‘When You’re Good To Mama’ leaving an impact. Joshua Lloyd brings honest emotion as Roxie’s bumbling husband Amos Hart, making his number ‘Mr Cellophane’ a stunning performance of a profound and poignant song. Jordan Lee Davies meanwhile carries stunning operatic vocals as journalist Mary Sunshine.
The production imagery is superb, and credit must be given to Paul Coltas for the production shots and Becky Lee Brun for the shots of Janette Manrara.
Chicago is a masterclass in musical theatre – sharp, sexy and endlessly entertaining and this UK tour lives up to its old school razzle-dazzle. With a top-class ensemble, full of exquisite dancers, you will be in for an exciting time down at the Cook County Jail!