Milton Keynes Theatre turns into 1920’s Chicago this week as the fabulous stage show is in town. And they mean business. What a fabulous show this is. This is by far the best production and cast I have ever seen in Chicago. It’s giving us the old razzle dazzle in spectacular form.
Set amidst the decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer, Billy Flynn, to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines. Roxie is hot property. At least for now.
The opening number sets the scene for the quality of what you are about to see. All That Jazz is iconic and oh the dancing. The dancing is just everything. Bob Fosse has left his mark. I cannot wax lyrical enough about the dancing. Better than the strictly dance numbers. Yep, I said it and stand by it. If there was a world championship for Fosse dancing, this cast would be holding the trophy.
Roxie is played by Faye Brookes. I love how Faye plays Roxie. Instead of being two faced, Roxie just uses her womanly wiles to get men to do her bidding. It’s the oldest trick in the book and yet the way Faye does it with a warmth makes us like Roxie all the more. Kevin Clifton plays Lawyer, Billy Flynn. You thought Kevin from Grimsby was just a dancer? Think again. This man can act and sing too. There is one moment in the show where he has a very long note, and you can almost feel the audience holding their breath. Kevin is fabulous and even though I would have liked some more dancing from him, (the role of Billy doesn’t allow for this), Kevin is the triple threat.
Velma is played by Djalenga Scott. Much savvier of the way the world works, she first dismisses Roxie, but when the press moves on and Velma loses the attention, she works at trying to win Roxie over. Djalenga is outstanding and shows her comic timing as well as her singing and dancing talent in ‘I can’t do it alone’. But my favourite number from Djalenga is still All That Jazz. What a number! My regular readers will know that I love Brenda Edwards who plays Mama and makes the role so easy and believable. What a voice. What a talent. What stage presence.
The Orchestra takes pride of place on the stage and feel part of the show rather than in the orchestra pit. Musical director is Neil MacDonald who does a fantastic job. Chicago’s sexy, sassy score includes the show-stopping songs Razzle Dazzle, Cell Block Tango, When You’re good to Mamma and All That Jazz. There is a reason it’s the winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy! And if that isn’t enough, Chicago is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history.
I am ready for my exit music please!….
Chicago is at Milton Keynes Theatre until 19 October. It would be criminal to miss this.
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