It was already the hottest night of the year but Hull New Theatre managed to crank up the heat even more with its latest production.
Slick, sassy and not designed to cool you down one jot, Chicago sizzled on stage from the moment the curtain went up. I’m now one of the estimated 34 million to have witnessed the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history – and I can appreciate why it has garnered so many fans as well as industry awards.
Professional dancer Janette Manrara, former star of Strictly Come Dancing, is making her musical theatre debut as the central character Roxie Hart. I must admit to thinking beforehand that this pocket rocket’s pedigree would have her standing head and shoulders (although she is tiny) above the rest; I was wrong.
Yes, Manrara is brilliant, and so is every other member of this amazing cast, who are all terrific singers (another string to your bow, Janette) as well as dancers. Roxie is a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her.
Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly (Djalenga Scott), by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer Billy Flynn (Darren Day) to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines.
(Image: hulltheatres.co.uk)
Scott put in a stunning performance of a put-out Velma, much to the audience’s appreciation and doyen of the West End stage Day continues to have a fine set of pipes on him. A packed house thoroughly enjoyed Linda John-Pierre’s portrayal of jailhouse matron Mama Morton and Jordan Lee Davies was a revelatory Mary Sunshine (good job there was no cut glass to shatter in the auditorium).
Some of the loudest applause went out, along with hearts, to Joshua Lloyd as Roxie’s hoodwinked husband Amos Hart. He played the character beautifully; I loved the white gloves touch in his moving Mister Cellophane.
Set amidst the Roaring Twenties, Chicago features show-stopping songs including Razzle Dazzle, Cell Block Tango, and All That Jazz. Hurrah to the show creators for putting the fabulous orchestra front and centre of this production rather than down in the pit.
The musicians are not only backing to, but part of the action and they are instrumental (no pun intended) in delivering some delicious, and funny, little details that you just have to be there to appreciate. Don’t get up too soon to leave (you will be on your feet anyway) when the house lights come up, though.
Chicago runs at Hull New Theatre until Saturday, July 5, at 7.30pm nightly, with matinees at 2.30pm on Thursday and Saturday. The Thursday night performance is audio described for those with a visual impairment. Cast and performance schedule are subject to change without notice.