Chicago The Musical Review * UK * 2022

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I was fortunate to see Chicago at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre and oh boy it packed a punch!

The cast were so energetic, the set was simple and even though I was sitting on the sides, I had a great view mostly all of the time.

The show’s ambience and timing were fantastic and it was nearly a full house in attendance.

The show’s characters were fully believable and came across with so much passion, expression and finesse.

There are different scenes within this production that transport you away, the orchestra were absolutely amazing and it was nice to see them.

There were some standout performances from the cast members. Djalenga Scott playing Velma Kelly was perfect in this role, I didn’t realize at the beginning how big her part would become but she played the part outstandingly and with lots of gusto. Hollie Jane Stephens was also an outstanding cast member and who played her role very well. Darren Day played the part of Billy Flynn and gave the role such presence. I loved Faye Brooke’s performance of Roxie.

In terms of technical , the lighting and thought behind the scenery was well thought out. Djalenga’s voice was though sometimes weak because of the music so a possible readjustment needed. A slight technical hiccup during the production did not derail proceedings.

The ensemble were all excellent in their roles and delivered so much energy and pizazz, oh and all that jazz!

Chicago was a stupendous, amazing show, go see it, please!

Anyway some news for you ‘Three Degrees’ soul sensation Sheila Ferguson will star as ‘Mama Morton’ in the acclaimed UK and Ireland tour of the international smash hit musical CHICAGO. Sheila joins the recently announced Russell Watson as ‘Billy Flynn’, Faye Brookes as ‘Roxie Hart’, Djalenga Scott as ‘Velma Kelly’, Jamie Baughan as ‘Amos Hart’ and B.E. Wong as ‘Mary Sunshine’.

The cast is completed by Ishmail Aaron, Michelle Andrews, Gabby Antrobus, Delycia Belgrave, Joel Benjamin, Tanisha-Mae Brown, Daniel Clift, Callum Fitzgerald, Emily Goodenough, Billie Hardy, Aaron Jenkins, Liam Marcellino, Theo Reece, Hollie Jane Stephens and Harrison Wilde.

Sheila Ferguson is best known as the lead singer of chart-topping group The Three Degrees, whose hits include ‘When Will I See You Again?’, ‘Take Good Care of Yourself’ and ‘A Woman In Love’. Her many theatre credits include the musicals Thoroughly Modern Millie, Soul Train, Oh! What A Night and Respect La Diva and many pantomime seasons throughout the UK. She has also appeared on television as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, and as a panelist on ITV’s Loose Women.

Russell Watson is regarded as one of the world’s greatest classical singers, having released ten critically acclaimed studio albums. His debut album, ‘The Voice’ held the number one chart position in the UK for a record-breaking 52 weeks. Throughout his extensive career Watson has collaborated with Meatloaf, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Alexandra Burke, and Luciano Pavarotti. He recently appeared as a contestant on the twentieth series, and castle edition, of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! His stage credits include Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds on tour and Karl Oscar in the English world premiere of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ Kristina at Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.

Faye Brookes Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton

Faye Brookes (Roxie Hart) recently reached the final of this year’s series of ITV’s Dancing On Ice. She is best known for her role as Kate Connor in ITV’s Coronation Street, for which she won a National Television Award. Her theatre credits include Princess Fiona in Shrek and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, both on national tour, Ann/Edna in That Day We Sang directed by Victoria Wood at Manchester’s Royal Exchange, Liesl in The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Frenchy in Grease at the West End’s Piccadilly Theatre. Faye’s other TV credits include Agnes Franklin in Our Girl and Helena in Atlantis, both for the BBC.

Djalenga Scott’s (Velma Kelly) West End credits include Lily St Regis in Annie at the Piccadilly Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the New London and Chicago at the Adelphi, Cambridge and Garrick Theatres. Her other credits include Anita in the national tour of West Side Story, Rizzo in Grease at Curve Leicester, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show and Carmen in Fame, both on European tours, the US tour of Batman Live and Bombalurina in Cats at Kilworth House. Djalenga’s screen credits include Scarlett/Esme in Trapped for the BBC and Alexandra in the film I Give It A Year.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, 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, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Created by the musical theatre talents of John Kander, Fred Ebb and legendary choreographer Bob Fosse, CHICAGO’s sexy, sassy score includes the show-stopping songs “Razzle Dazzle”, “Cell Block Tango”, and “All That Jazz”. Winner of six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, CHICAGO is the longest running American musical in Broadway and West End history.

HICAGO UK AND IRELAND TOUR LISTINGS 2022

MONDAY 7 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2022

Liverpool Empire

www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

Sheila Ferguson – Mama Morton, Russell Watson – Billy Flynn, Faye Brookes – Roxie Hart & Djalenga Scott – Velma Kelly.

MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY – SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2022

Congress Theatre, Eastbourne

www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk