Chicago
Music and lyrics: John Kander, Fred Ebb
Director: Walter Bobbie
Details: Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street, WC2 9HU
Tube: Covent Garden
Performances: Mon-Sat 8.00 pm, Matinees Fri 4.30 pm and Sat 3.00 pm
Running time: 2h30
In short: 1920s jazz era conquers the modern musical stage.
In full: Sexiness meets scandal meets murder in the tale of Roxie Hart, a vampy dancer who kills her lover and finds herself in jail trying to avoid death row. Roxie’s trail of deception leads her to Velma Kelly, a sultry double-murderess starved for attention, and Billy Flynn, a sleazy lawyer (played by Tony Hadley, ex-lead singer of Spandau Ballet) who promises freedom and fame for the right price. With its nonstop steamy song and dance routines, it's easy to see why Chicago won an Olivier and became the West End's longest-running revival. The show's tenth season cast includes How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? finalist Aoife Mulholland as Roxie, West End favourite Annette McLaughlin as Velma, and X Factor contestant Brenda Edwards as Mama, the manipulative prison warden with a voice that will take your breath away.
- Jill HilbrennerOther Critics
'The sexiest, most sophisticated dancing seen on Broadway in years. Chicago flies us right into musical heaven.' Ben Brantley, New York Times
'Chicago has the qualities seldom found on the Great White Way these days: class, style, wit and a sophisticated skepticism.' Benedict Nightingale, The Times