Nottingham Concert Hall – until Saturday 12 April 2025
Reviewed by Louise Ford
5*****
She’ll be good to you!
We prepared ourselves with a cool gin, at the Yarn bar, for last night’s performance. A great choice for such a hot performance.
The Concert Hall was packed last night for the first performance of Chicago. The curtains are still tightly drawn but in front of them, to the left, is a spotlight, single black chair with a black cane and a black hat. Behind the curtains we can hear the band warming up, all discordant notes and familiar riffs.
The anticipation is mounting when the curtains are drawn back to reveal darkness. Slowly the set is illuminated to reveal the band, right at the centre of the action. We have the best seats in the house in this Chicago jazz club. We are straight into one of the most catchy songs in the whole production, there’s a lot of great songs to choose from, “All That Jazz”.
The song is performed by Velma Kelly (Djalenga Scott). Her performance is initially ice cold but builds to a veritable orgy of dancing with the whole ensemble dancing and gyrating on set. The slow finger clicks build to an absolute crescendo of dance and raw energy. It’s absolutely spellbinding.
So to recap it’s 1924 and we are in Chicago. A city in the thralls of gangsters, prohibition, jazz clubs and the pursuit of fame and fortune. The story is based on two women who were accused, tried and acquitted of murdering their lovers in 1924. The outline of their stories in the, quality, programme warrants further research. These two stories which made the front-page of the Chicago Tribune were turned into a book and then a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The play first appeared on Broadway in 1926. The first film version was in 1942 and stared Ginger Rogers.
In 1975 Bob Fosse obtained the rights to the book. He worked with John Kander and Fred Ebb (they of Cabaret fame),to create the first musical version. And the rest as they say is history. Over the intervening, nearly, 50 years the show has been performed in the US and the UK, with a host of glamorous performers taking the leading roles.
Back to the production,during the performance of All That Jazz we are introduced to our other murderess Roxie Hart (Janette Manrara). She is shown arguing with and shooting her lover, dead. Nobody leaves me!
After she is arrested, we get to meet the other inmates of Cook County Jail. There are six inmates all clearly innocent of the crimes they have been accused of. They tell their stories by performing “Cell Block Tango”, another great sexy routine.
We are also introduced to one of the larger than life characters, Mamma Morton (Brenda Edwards), who performs the fantastic When You’re Good To Mamma. Her voice and stage presence are electrifying.
Mamma is the prison’s mover and shaker and introduces Roxie to Billy Flynn (Dan Burton). The lawyer for hire with an eye on the cash and the next step to fame and front page headlines. Billy, all shiny shoes, smart suit and slicked back hair, hits the stage with another banger Razzle Dazzle, which captures the way he operates!
The Busby Berkeley inspired fan dance to which Billy performs “All I Care About is Love“ changes the tempo of the show and brings in a more thoughtful vibe. Although we are all left wondering how far can we trust Billy as he performs for the press and the jury. There is one particular reporter that Billy is keen to get on Roxy’s side, the soft heated Mary Sunshine (Jordan Lee Davies). She has her own secrets to hide!
All the while we see Roxy and Velma venting for Billy’s and The Press’ attention to get their stories over and show their innocence. I say innocence, I mean they both admit that they did it, but “They Had it Coming”.
The court scenes are pretty pared back but the ventriloquist style rendering of “We Both Reached For The Gun” performed by Billy Flynn and Roxie Hart, is full on, and very funny.
As well as the main characters there is also Roxie’s cuckhold husband Amos Hart (Joshua Lloyd). He occupies a grey cardigan space on the stage in contrast to the rest of the cast, all sexily dressed. My favourite song is Mr Cellophane, which Amos sings and illustrates with a pair of white gloves.
The band is on stage throughout the performance and are integral to creating that night club vibe. They are energetic and seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. They add a great dimension to the performance. Another big tick for live music and real live performers.
The ensemble who cover all of the supporting roles (inmates, journalists, etc), are energetic, sexy and work effortlessly and tirelessly to create a wonderful evening’s entertainment.
The ensemble’s costumes are sexy in the extreme!
You really have to admire the whole cast who can simultaneously dance and sing, without getting out of breath or missing a beat.
So let’s all rush down to a “whoopee spot where the gin is cold but the piano’s hot”!