Sexy, glamorous, brash and brilliant: Chicago has all the elements for a snazzy, jazzy night out.
In a world now obsessed with celebrity culture, this musical feels just as at home in a contemporary setting, as when it first hit the stage in 1975. Chicago follows the lives of fame-hungry female prison inmates, doing time for murder in the 1920s, who are desperate to get their faces in as many newspapers as possible. Velma Kelly [Dawn Spence] is the favoured star, having shot her sister when she caught her in bed with her husband. Lawyer Billy Flynn [George Asprey] falls over himself to propel her to stardom and line his pockets, that is until Roxie Hart [Haley Flaherty] arrives on the scene. Roxie soon steals Velma's limelight as Flynn concocts an elaborate story to woo the press and jury into finding her not guilty. But as the girls find out, fame is fickle. Slick and glossy A healthy nine years on stage in London's West End has turned Chicago into a slick, glossy and polished production. Its super-musical status was reinforced by the film version starring Catherine Zeta Jones in 2002 to bring the Chicago story to thousands worldwide. Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, the show has won a multitude of awards, including six Tonys, one Grammy and two Baftas. The musicians in the touring show, led by Stuart Calvert, deserve their centre-stage position throughout the night. The score is sultry and irresistible, and the orchestra was given a deserved standing ovation at end. Strong performances Dawn Spence [Velma Kelly] and Haley Flaherty [Roxie Hart] gave strong performances, with the beautiful duet of My Own Best Friend. Other highlights include the fabulous We Both Reached For The Gun featuring Roxie as Billy's ventriloquist's dummy, a sizzling Cell Block Tango, and Dale Meeks' [Amos Hart] heart-rendering performance of Mister Cellophane. Sweet and sexy As musicals go Chicago is as sexy as it gets. Close-cut and revealing costumes by designer William Ivey Long showcase this beautiful cast to their sensuous best. The boys are shaking their skin-tight covered booties, dare I say it, better than Beyonce. The girls bejewelled and tantalising - leaving just enough to the imagination to keep you wanting more. It's a masterpiece of theatrical couture that won't fail to disappoint. If you're a lover of bold, toe-tapping, and glitzy musicals, don't miss it. I defy you to not come out of the theatre singing at least one song. Chicago runs at the Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday, 3 March, 2007. For details call 01603 630000. The national tour continues until September 2007, see local press for details. | 
