Given the anticipation buzzing within Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall last night, it was safe to say the audience were thoroughly ready to rouge their knees and roll their stockings down for the opening performance of Chicago.
Chicago has long since established itself as a classic musical. It’s a tale of murder, deception, glitz and glamour set against the backdrop of the eponymous city during the late-1920s. The 2016 UK National tour, produced by David Ian and Michael Watt, has opened to rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
The show began on a low note for some members of the audience when an announcement rang out that Jessie Wallace, previously of Eastenders fame, would not be performing this evening as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton. A few went as far as to vocalise their disappointment with groans and sighs. They probably felt rather foolish 30 minutes later when understudy Ellie Mitchell wowed with an impassioned rendition of ‘When you’re good to Mama.’
The set designers should also be applauded for the staging of the production. Opting for a minimalist approach, the show relied less on props and focused almost entirely on the talents of the ensemble to bring the story to life. Though you can forgive them for sneaking one confetti cannon in somewhere. It is a musical after all.
It may be considered a bold choice to place a live orchestra on centre stage and have the cast act around them but it certainly paid off. Members of the orchestra even got up to join in the eccentric dance routines which served to ramp up the light-hearted side of the musical. Have you ever seen a man high-kick whilst playing the trumpet? It’s a sight to behold.
Other standout moments included opening number and fan-favourite ‘All that Jazz’ along with a particularly comedic performance of ‘We Both Reached for the Gun.’
Congratulations really must go out to leading cast members Hayley Tamaddon, Sophie Carmen-Jones and John Partridge who played Roxy Hart, Velma Kelly and Billy Flynn respectively. To those sceptics who may scoff at the idea of soap stars performing musical theatre, here’s some words of advice; leave your prejudices at the door.
Chicago is a thoroughly entertaining musical which will have you roaring with laugher one minute and tugging at your heartstrings the next. They’ll give you the old Razzle Dazzle and you’ll find yourself wanting more. After all, everyone loves the big bambooz-a-ler.
Chicago is playing at the Royal Concert Hall from 15-20 August. Tickets from £15. https://trch.co.uk/whats-on/chicago-2/
Review by Laura Somers
