Chicago
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
27th June - 2nd July 2016
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
27th June - 2nd July 2016
Welcome to the monochrome world of Chicago - an aptly-visioned musical masterpiece which befits the production’s 1920s storyline chronicling the murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery of the time.
Chicago introduces us to nightclub singer, Roxy Hart and double murderess, Velma Kelly who, combined with their own good looks and charm, alongside the assistance of dodgy, money-grabbing attorney, Billy Flynn and the sensationalist newspaper reporter, Mary Sunshine, attempt to win over the jury through the public’s sympathies in order to avoid a public hanging.
Real life 1920s journalist, Maurine Watkins, frequently wrote about the women on ‘murderess row’ in Chicago’s Crook County Jail for the Chicago Tribune. She originally drafted her first play called The Brave Woman which eventually became Chicago in 1926. Roxy, Velma and Billy were born out of the true story of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, and their flamboyant attorney, W V O’Brien. A few years after Watkins died it was later used as the basis for the 1975 Kander and Ebb musical we know today with choreography by the award-winning Bob Fosse, famously known for his innovative and spectacular staging and dance sequences.
With the announcement on the opening night at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion that Coronation Street actress, Hayley Tamaddon, would not be performing, the audience’s initial audible disappointment was well and truly made up for with the outstanding performance of Lindsay Tierney playing the role of Roxy Hart. Matched by the equally spectacular singing and dancing skills of Sophie Carmen-Jones, these two talented performers certainly prove that you don’t need to be a ‘name’ to make a production work.
Having said that, I’m certain that one of the reasons the Cliffs Pavilion was so full on opening night was due to the fact that Eastenders' actor, John Partridge and X-Factor winner, Sam Bailey plus the aforementioned Ms Tamaddon were headlining. However, they each more than proved their worth, working together with a fabulously talented ensemble and an orchestra full of energy and gusto in this knockout production which is touring directly from the West End.
The set is simplistic and mostly taken up by the ten-piece orchestra who are integral to the dynamics of the piece and who are enthusiastically led by Ben Atkinson. Without any scene changes, the work is really cut out for the cast to deliver and they certainly don’t disappoint. John Partridge's rather over-animated mouth initially proved a slight distraction but he really makes the role of Billy Flynn his own and can certainly hold a note, much to the delight of the audience. Likewise, Sam Bailey, ironically cast as prison matron, Mama Morton, (she was once a prison officer in real life) who also gives a splendid performance. Another cracking and humorous performance came from A D Richardson as reporter, Mary Sunshine, who is literally full of surprises and wowed the audience with the song ‘A Little Bit of Good’ - what a voice!
The dancing this company delivers with its sexy, sassy routines, really does steal the show and with firm favourites such as ‘All That Jazz’, ‘Cell Block Tango’, ‘Mister Cellophane’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’ all building up to an amazing finale, this production fires along at machine-gun pace and is the perfect antidote to the current economic worries and gloom we seem to be enveloped in right now. With its distinctly memorable score and impressive choreography performed by a hugely talented cast, I would thoroughly recommend this marvellous uplifting production. I’m definitely voting ‘IN’ for Chicago!
For tickets go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Chicago introduces us to nightclub singer, Roxy Hart and double murderess, Velma Kelly who, combined with their own good looks and charm, alongside the assistance of dodgy, money-grabbing attorney, Billy Flynn and the sensationalist newspaper reporter, Mary Sunshine, attempt to win over the jury through the public’s sympathies in order to avoid a public hanging.
Real life 1920s journalist, Maurine Watkins, frequently wrote about the women on ‘murderess row’ in Chicago’s Crook County Jail for the Chicago Tribune. She originally drafted her first play called The Brave Woman which eventually became Chicago in 1926. Roxy, Velma and Billy were born out of the true story of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner, and their flamboyant attorney, W V O’Brien. A few years after Watkins died it was later used as the basis for the 1975 Kander and Ebb musical we know today with choreography by the award-winning Bob Fosse, famously known for his innovative and spectacular staging and dance sequences.
With the announcement on the opening night at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion that Coronation Street actress, Hayley Tamaddon, would not be performing, the audience’s initial audible disappointment was well and truly made up for with the outstanding performance of Lindsay Tierney playing the role of Roxy Hart. Matched by the equally spectacular singing and dancing skills of Sophie Carmen-Jones, these two talented performers certainly prove that you don’t need to be a ‘name’ to make a production work.
Having said that, I’m certain that one of the reasons the Cliffs Pavilion was so full on opening night was due to the fact that Eastenders' actor, John Partridge and X-Factor winner, Sam Bailey plus the aforementioned Ms Tamaddon were headlining. However, they each more than proved their worth, working together with a fabulously talented ensemble and an orchestra full of energy and gusto in this knockout production which is touring directly from the West End.
The set is simplistic and mostly taken up by the ten-piece orchestra who are integral to the dynamics of the piece and who are enthusiastically led by Ben Atkinson. Without any scene changes, the work is really cut out for the cast to deliver and they certainly don’t disappoint. John Partridge's rather over-animated mouth initially proved a slight distraction but he really makes the role of Billy Flynn his own and can certainly hold a note, much to the delight of the audience. Likewise, Sam Bailey, ironically cast as prison matron, Mama Morton, (she was once a prison officer in real life) who also gives a splendid performance. Another cracking and humorous performance came from A D Richardson as reporter, Mary Sunshine, who is literally full of surprises and wowed the audience with the song ‘A Little Bit of Good’ - what a voice!
The dancing this company delivers with its sexy, sassy routines, really does steal the show and with firm favourites such as ‘All That Jazz’, ‘Cell Block Tango’, ‘Mister Cellophane’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’ all building up to an amazing finale, this production fires along at machine-gun pace and is the perfect antidote to the current economic worries and gloom we seem to be enveloped in right now. With its distinctly memorable score and impressive choreography performed by a hugely talented cast, I would thoroughly recommend this marvellous uplifting production. I’m definitely voting ‘IN’ for Chicago!
For tickets go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
