Chicago

Let’s put aside the glamour associated with this musical for one moment and look at what’s underneath it. Roxie the star is arrested for murdering her lover and in jail as she awaits trial, she meets many other women in the same predicament. This was fascinating for so-called puritan Americans who blamed alcohol, in a time of prohibition, and access to firearms as the reasons for these women’s downfall.

But this puritanical attitude is hypocritical of course, because then walks in Billy Flynn played by the recognisable John Partridge. He’s the sleazy lawyer who spins any number of lies that are fed to the press to get the women off. Chicago highlights the flaws in the American justice system, which appears just as corrupt at the criminals, where plea bargaining or lying is easier for everyone than telling the truth. “What’s the hell innocence got to do with it?” is asked, as we see another woman hanged for continually pleading her innocence (and she could have genuinely been innocent in this case).

But Roxie played by Hayley Tamaddon knows how to play the game, as she allows the true star of all the proceedings – the lawyer Billy play her like a puppet. Feeding her the story that will make her look like a persecuted angel by the time she gets to court. On stage we see her sitting on his lap as he swings her around and does all the talking for her. This is one of my favourite scenes in the show, as well as the finale where everything comes together in chorus line of falsehoods and sexiness, creating the desired frenzy for the media and public. 

This is a true story. Set in 1920s Chicago, this was a time of prohibition, jazz and speakeasies, gangsters and Al Capone. Centre stage sits the jazz band with, at times, the maestro garnering small parts as the action happens demonstrating the central part jazz and the musicians had at this time. Capone for example was known to have liked going to nightspots and socialising with the jazz musicians. It’s great watching the vibrant band play their numbers, and the most famous of all – All That Jazz. The acting is slick and although you may have expected a tall leggy blonde in the part of Roxie, Tamaddon does a sterling job and adds a nuance to the character that works well with the humours elements in the show reminiscent of a Vaudeville theatre experience.

The dancers are sexy and scantily dressed and the original dance moves choreographed by legend Bob Fosse, are, as you would expect – fantastic. Fosse was the show’s creator back in the original Broadway production in 1975, and it continues to delight audiences to this day.  He’s famous for creating the jazz hands move, using hats in the routines (which is said he liked to include because he was bold), sideways shuffling and turned-in knees. Moves that you would also recognise from one of his other most famous creations, the film version of Cabaret starring Liza Minnelli.