Chicago - U.K. Tour

2 stars London Theatre: www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/review-chicago-starring-cuba-gooding-jnr-at-the-phoenix-theatre
3 stars Time Out: www.timeout.com/london/theatre/chicago-review
4 stars The Times: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/theatre-review-chicago-at-phoenix-theatre-wc2-5l666fvmj
4 stars The Standard: www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/chicago-review-razzle-dazzle-returns-to-delight-us-in-the-west-end-a3812006.html

About 2 hours 20 minutes including interval - we were out by 10.20 on Monday (8.00 start).

Yep!

This seems to have missed the razzledazzle!!

Looking at tickets for next week and it doesn’t seem to have sold that well despite stunt casting and first class musical theatre actresses. So wonder what the box office will  be like when these move on? Still want to see this with the main leads - so going to try and catch the midweek matinee.

Incidentally this is a tourist trap in New York, advised friends and colleagues to swerve this on Broadway, as the production is the same as the one as in there local theatre, which some did but 2 colleagues found the title irrestible But regretted not listening to me, one colleague went back to New York and advised him and his wife to see Kinky Boots, which they did, they finally saw a Broadway show.

Never been a fan of this show and cannot see it lasting long. Surprised the last revival lasted as it did and played large theatres.

The Oscar gave this show a massive boost.

Quite possibly. I have a couple of former ballerinas in the family and those ladies are indestructible. 

Lord no.

Roxie is meant to play the wooden dummy, you cant have one playing the role of pulling her strings.

Saw this tonight.

We sat in the front row which I must say for this production felt extremely close, especially given that Chicago doesn't utilise the pit which would give a little extra distance. I have to say though that ATG were very thorough in warning me about this which was good (even said on the tickets "very close to stage)

The show:

I felt that the ensemble were great. I really appreciate how the show features semi dressed men as well as women. My seat in the front row meant that I was extremely close to Chris Warner Drake as Fred Casely. What a lovely view! The choreography can be appreciated differently this close and it felt very cabaret style (fitting for this show)

It's a pity for Ruthie really as I felt this wasn't really the right part for her. I'm a fan of hers but she felt a bit miscast and I almost would have preferred her still as Velma!

Cuba Gooding Jr did disappoint. I knew that he wouldn't sing the role well but expected him to have the energy and acting chops to really own it. For me, he did not. I felt he ran over many of his funnier moments and missed all of the tender ones. He often came off more as a blubbering clown rather than smooth talking lawyer. John Partridge, he is not. Saying this I don't want to 'bad mouth' him too much as I'm sure there are many roles on film which he would really suit... Just not this. It was also a pity, sitting so close, to see that he really isn't comfortable in this show. During Razzle Dazzle when he is supposed to be the self confessed "Star" he was over in the corner whilst the ensemble sold the number. It just doesn't fit the number let alone the storyline.

On a more positive note the orchestra sound brilliant! I think, correct me if I'm wrong, it's slightly bigger than on tour which made the difference with less doubling. They looked like they were having a ball. Quite right too.

I should also mention, having seen him in the role before, I didn't notice just how good Alan Richardson is as Mary Sunshine. He's very funny. He stole the show for me performance wise as you believe his love for Billy. Incredible falsetto. It must be very taxing keeping it up but he's brilliant.

All in all it's a fun evening out but not worth the West end price tag. It's a nice day seat bargain but not top price. This feels like a great show that has done its time in London. Perhaps time now to let it hang?

Also glad to report the gunshots, as on the previous tour, were all just done on drums. Has this always been the case? Is it the same on Broadway?

He doesn't, he's only in the show for a limited time.

The latter I'm afraid - nothing I've heard about his performance makes me think that he's worth seeing over an understudy who actually has training and experience in musical theatre.

I have a shocking confession to make.

My earworm this morning was "Can't do it alone" from Chicago.

For some 21 years I have been misinterpreting the following line:
I always thought that Velma's joke was simply (and only) that she was answering the geography question with a satirical "state of the nation" response.

Geography was never my strong point...!

Saw the matinee today, I was sitting in the last row of the half-empty dress circle and gave myself a great auto-promotion during the interval. I do love Chicago, it has an incredible score and I'm a big fan of this black box concept, with the (amazing) orchestra on stage and the sexy costumes. Surely this cast is a bisexual's dream, I myself would like to make hot jazz with all the chorus boys. However, we're just a month into the run and it already feels stale and the coreographies are far from being on point. Cuba is a disgrace, it's not that he can't sing, but he sounds like Billie Holiday singing Whitney Houston. And the acting? It's so subpar and basic? Surely we were all expecting something more in that department? But he surely had his fans. Ruthie's voice is not what it used to be but still delivers a great cameo performance as Mama Morton, while Josefina Gabrielle is a very fine Velma. The true star is, for me, the excellent Sarah Soetaert, whose emotional journey in the song "Roxie" as she takes confidence with the stage is truly astonishing. I really loved her, she is truly a fantastic Roxie.

2 questions here.

The current revival despite big stars both name and musical, I was sitting in a half filled theatre, which I would consider to be a small house, The Girls and Beckham had a bigger audience. So why do you think this isn’t selling? Also it was raining all morning and this always help to get tourists into tourist shows? I could see this closing soon, if things don’t pick up. Even with its set that comes from the tour.

Conversely the last Tony and Olivier winning revival was the longest running American musical in West End history, but why? It also played reasonably big theatres as in the Adelphi and Cambridge and downsized for the Garrick. But hats off it played years to millions of people, but I am at a loss why? It isn’t exactly Wicked with its eye popping staging.