Chicago (WBOS Musical Theatre )
I suspect that the enigma that is Bob Fosse spends a lot of time looking down from above on performances of productions with which he will be eternally linked, however he won't always be able to think to himself, 'that's exactly how I wanted it to be'. Ben Cole as Director/Choreographer, Ian Room as Musical Director and James Maddison as Assistant Musical Director will I am sure have made him (and John Kander/Fred Ebb) think exactly that as right from Adam Partridge's opening speech quoting murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery, the audience is entertained and enlightened with the seamier side of life in 1920's Chicago.
This production is packed full of intense and incredible performances from both principals and ensemble cast, Claire Flavell's powerhouse Velma Kelly never reduces in intensity from the classic 'And All That Jazz' right through to my own personal favourite number 'Nowadays' and is matched every step of the way by Jessamine Cox's commanding Roxie Hart.
It appears that everybody 'wants' Billy, not everybody however will get John Wetherall's lucid and engaging performance of lawyer Billy Flynn, those who see this production and do should count themselves lucky. As they should to see Tim Jones's touching portrayal of the downtrodden, overlooked yet totally impressive performance as Amos Hart, his delivery of 'Mr Cellophane' is absolutely spot on in every way.
Sarah Moors delivers an authoritative and dominating performance as Matron 'Mama' Morton whilst retaining some of those 'Mother Hen' traits and probably the performance of the night comes from Andy Foggin as newspaper reporter Mary Sunshine with both impressive voice and characterisation.
There are some outstanding cameo character pieces, not least of all Leann Barnett's vociferous Go-To-Hell Kitty and Beth Logan's pleading Hunyak, I believe she is not guilty, sadly the judge on this occasion didn't. Joining Velma and Hunyak in the quintessential 'Cell Block Tango', Liz (Helen Figures), Annie (Amy Evans), June (Sarah Pickett) and Mona (Rose Broadfield) create a dance story that proves very few women in 1920's Chicago were to be trusted and that any form of dispatch gun, knife or poison are an opportunity, I'll leave it to you to decide if their partners 'had it coming' or not.
If you're looking for a night of outstanding musical theatre in this pre-Christmas period, you should seriously get yourself over to the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley for WBOS Musical Theatre’s Chicago, you’ve only got two performances before it’ll be too late.
Book Here
This production is packed full of intense and incredible performances from both principals and ensemble cast, Claire Flavell's powerhouse Velma Kelly never reduces in intensity from the classic 'And All That Jazz' right through to my own personal favourite number 'Nowadays' and is matched every step of the way by Jessamine Cox's commanding Roxie Hart.
It appears that everybody 'wants' Billy, not everybody however will get John Wetherall's lucid and engaging performance of lawyer Billy Flynn, those who see this production and do should count themselves lucky. As they should to see Tim Jones's touching portrayal of the downtrodden, overlooked yet totally impressive performance as Amos Hart, his delivery of 'Mr Cellophane' is absolutely spot on in every way.
Sarah Moors delivers an authoritative and dominating performance as Matron 'Mama' Morton whilst retaining some of those 'Mother Hen' traits and probably the performance of the night comes from Andy Foggin as newspaper reporter Mary Sunshine with both impressive voice and characterisation.
There are some outstanding cameo character pieces, not least of all Leann Barnett's vociferous Go-To-Hell Kitty and Beth Logan's pleading Hunyak, I believe she is not guilty, sadly the judge on this occasion didn't. Joining Velma and Hunyak in the quintessential 'Cell Block Tango', Liz (Helen Figures), Annie (Amy Evans), June (Sarah Pickett) and Mona (Rose Broadfield) create a dance story that proves very few women in 1920's Chicago were to be trusted and that any form of dispatch gun, knife or poison are an opportunity, I'll leave it to you to decide if their partners 'had it coming' or not.
If you're looking for a night of outstanding musical theatre in this pre-Christmas period, you should seriously get yourself over to the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley for WBOS Musical Theatre’s Chicago, you’ve only got two performances before it’ll be too late.
Book Here
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