I
have to admit that I’ve never been too fussed to see the stage production of
‘Chicago’. I loved the film but hearing other theatre goers report back that
the film version is superior I was dissuaded. I thought if everyone is saying
it, surely it must be disappointing – the people saying this were theatre fans
and not the kind of people to usually rate film over live performance.
But
since the tour was coming to Cardiff, near to where I live, and my sister said
this was one she’d really like to see I decided to buy tickets for my sister,
my mum and myself. They enjoy theatre but aren’t fanatical about it like me.
For
once I had tickets in the circle, rather than the stalls. I booked quite late
and, since this is a show that appeals to many, tickets were few. However, I
think the circle is a good choice for a show of this nature – a show that
focuses strongly on the dance aspect over any other. Having an overview in this
circumstance is more important than being seated in a position where you get a
good perspective of acting.
When
you enter the auditorium there is simply a chair set on stage downstage right
with a hat a top it lit with a spot. The rest of the stage is in darkness.
As
the show begins you are presented with the set which remains a consistent from
start to finish. It’s a rather stage dominating construction – a cutaway of a
jazz club upon which are seated the actual orchestra for the show. Yes, the
orchestra are on stage for the whole performance (I’d already heard this before, though I hadn’t realised just how much
of the stage they dominated). This leaves a very narrow playing area downstage.
There is a little corridor of space either side of the set but this is mainly
used as a seating area for chorus when they are not needed in a particular
song.
This
all has its purpose of course. The idea is to create the feel that we are
watching a performance in one of the old jazz clubs. Chicago is presented as a
city obsessed with ‘sex, jazz and liquor’ and all the characters are so seduced
by this lifestyle that they play out the stories of their lives in this way.
“in
this town, murder is a form of entertainment”.
The
problem with this set up is it can feel quite bland at times – especially in
the more intimate numbers. They’ve tried to create some sense of location
through lighting, such as jail cell bars lit on the floor for the prison scenes
but this left me a bit cold.
It’s
the dancing that is the key standout feature of ‘Chicago’. This is no real
revelation as Fosse is always centred on dance but it really is this that Chicago’s
strength rides upon. (Well, that and the fact it’s notorious for
stunt casting. Meeeeow)
So
onto the principle performances:-
Weak
generally – none of them really blew me away.
Ali Bastian’s portrayal of
Roxie Hart was lacking – the singing was weak, the dancing – just okay. And
perhaps this could have been forgiven if she’d delivered a convincing character
but I really wasn’t feeling it. When I then looked in the programme at the
interval to read more about her background and noticed she’d played Becca Dean
in Hollyoaks, I couldn’t help but spend the rest of the performance comparing
her to her Hollyoaks colleague, Carley Stenson, who’s fresh in my memory from
seeing her in Shrek recently.
Tupele Dorgu delivered a
decent performance of Velma Kelly. Again, her singing wasn’t very strong but
the tone was pleasant and she portrayed the character’s single minded hardness
and lust for the Chicago lifestyle to a good standard. It says in the programme
that she’s “delighted to be playing Velma Kelly, a role she’s always wanted to play”
and I think this shows – she seems to have worked hard to get the character
right.
The
best of the leads, though, was Stefan
Booth as Billy Flynn. Although not a skilled singer either, he has the
charisma and stage presence one would expect of this character. Towards the end
of the show his voice did start to suffer, though – it sounded like he really
needed to cough, which then made me want to cough (because I’m sooo empathetic). This makes me concerned about his
stamina and ability to keep up the same level of performance for the rest of
his stint on the tour.
Bernie Nolan was as to be
expected as Mama Morton – good singing but lacking any real character and I
felt that since Amos doesn’t do a lot of dancing that he should at least be a
great singer – unfortunately that wasn’t the case with Jamie Baughan who was acceptable but I just didn’t warm to his Amos
– and that’s the one character you should be able to warm to.
The
chorus were the stars of this show, though, and I’m pleased they were each
individually acknowledged at the bows.
My
favourite scenes were the ones which made use of these outstanding dancers,
especially during the Billy Flynn scenes. ‘All I Care About is Love’ was one of my
favourites with the girls carrying large white tail like feathers which caught
the light beautifully as they twirled them around Billy Flynn.
‘We
Both Reached for the Gun’ was also brilliantly choreographed and the scene I’d
been looking forward to most of all for that famous ‘puppet act’ which was done
perfectly by all, credit where it’s due.
‘Razzle
Dazzle’ was another highlight with most of the technical budget being thrown
into this. It was the most exciting visually, with a lighting baton being
lowered from the flys to the floor, uplighting some of the chorus members and
‘razzle dazzling’ us as they shake their tinsel pompoms which sparkle as they catch
the light, then raining down little pieces of ‘razzle dazzle’ during a pyro
effect, leaving the stage glittering for the rest of the show.
I
also really liked the ridiculousness of the re-enactment of Fred Casley’s murder;
Very in tradition with the old vaudeville performances with the overacting and
exaggerated movements. It reminded me of an episode of Family Guy where they
mock William Shatner’s acting.
This
is one of those incredibly rare occasions where I would have to
agree with the majority and say the film incarnation of ‘Chicago’ is superior
to the stage version. I like the fact that in the film there is actually a
substantial story playing out in real life around Roxie’s jazz obsessed
delusions, rather than just feeling like we’re watching a story within a
vaudeville performance. Although the latter may have been the original vision for Chicago, I
do prefer a strong, concrete storyline in my musicals.
Chicago
is continuing to tour around the UK until the end of the year. Please check
their website http://www.chicagothemusical.co.uk/uktour.php
for venues near you, more information & to book tickets.
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