Chicago - U.K. Tour

To be fair, she didn't oversing in Chess really, only the odd note here and there - she mostly sang it straight, so she is capable of singing it straight.

Seeing this tonight with due sense of trepidation. I’ve seen this three times previously in London and come away underwhelmed, irritated and horrified respectively. Once on tour which was superb with Tupele Dorgu.

Will report back.

My issue when I’ve seen it has been that it’s all style and no substance. They seem to cast the prettiest chorus possible - with talent as an afterthought.

There’s so little to the show visually, it desperately needs extremely tight ensemble dancing and top singing from the principals - or what else is there apart from very beautiful people on a bare stage?

If the ensemble is world class, like 42nd Street good, then I should enjoy this tonight.

The very reason I spent £25 from TKTS for a seat in the Grand Circle. I’ll give it a go with an open mind. I know it CAN be good... I hoped maybe closing and redirecting, recasting and a clean slate with a high bar might make this better than my previous visits.

And yes, I do actually love the show. I just have only seen it done well once, the tour.

I’m guessing that means for the first week of September there will be an understudy on for Billy! Might be a good time to go!

Ooh Cuba is going to curse the Broadway production too! What ever happened to class?

www.broadwayworld.com/article/Cuba-Gooding-Jr-Will-Reprise-His-Role-of-Billy-Flynn-in-CHICAGO-on-Broadway-20180823

It pains me to say but Duncan was great in the Priscilla tour but who knows if that will make him any good as Billy Flynn, I've never seen Chicago.

Has anybody read the recently released Book: All That Jazz: The Life and Times of the Musical Chicago? I really want to read it but, my local library doesn't have it and it is expensive to buy. If any of y'all have read it I would love to know what you thought.

I'm in the super majority and think Cuba Gooding Jr. was terrible in the role but, he will get butts in the seats on Broadway and that is all the producers want.

Taking a bit of rare traditional sat-at-computer time to write up my personal opinion of Chicago on Wednesday night.

In short, I was genuinely surprised in that first of all, a) I stayed until the end and subsequently b) I really bloody enjoyed it.

I love the material. It's a brilliant show if done right. I've written about it extensively in the past in previous blogs. But, with respect to the audience who read this, I can't be raised to retrace those old comments. In short, I love the film adaptation, and given the poor quality of the casts and the tired nature of the show at the Adelphi and the Cambridge on the occasions I've seen the show previously, I didn't expect much - at all.

Preface: I bought a ticket on the day, row A of the Grand Circle (front row of the highest level). It was sound as restricted viewing for £25 (including discount) from TKTS and represented frankly excellent value. The Phoenix isn't exactly a barn and I felt (at least vertically!) very close to the action. But I'm sure the ever phenomenal Monkey will correct me if I'm being too compensatory!
The reason for the cheap ticket and last minute nature is because of the above. Chicago has tended to be really, really poor in the West End in previous visits. And by 'tended to be', I mean 'exclusively has been'.

Onto the show...

First - the band are terrific. After some audible (even to non-musicians like myself) mistakes in the overture, the band were excellent and sounded gorgeous from thereon. I'm sure musicians will explain this for me as a backstage-type? Lack of warm up? Finding your pitch?

I didn't warm to it quickly. Initially at least! All my worst fears appeared to be coming true. The ensemble appears vey small (smaller or very close in size than the band? - I didn't count) and full of very pretty people. Which is fine, if they are good enough. Truth be told, they are. The dancing is strong; the singing is solid. Incidentally, is this clicked with pre-records? There was a LOT of male vocals going on considering I spotted four people actually singing. No bother either way, it doesn't matter. PM me.

It's an exact replica production from when it closed (of which I admittedly hadn't seen it for many years prior, so there may have been changes I don't remember), but from what I remember, it's an exact copy in every way of the downsized production. The dancing is very tight, for the first time as I've seen it in London. If you've seen the show and know the material, then its done up to the standard you should expect, coming from a Chicago-skeptic like myself.

Which only really leaves the cast;

- Josefina Gabrielle - she had been in the cast for a previous visit but had been off so I'd seen her very nervous cover. She's very good. Reminds me a LOT of Ruthie in looks, diction - everything. Sings and dances extremely well. From my distant seat appears to be pushing the top end of the age I'd like to see in the character, but it wasn't a problem for now. Sang well, not fantastically powerful but good enough and her strength was her dancing, which was wonderful. A solid hand, not the sort of person you'd book specifically to see, but one you'd be glad you saw as a part of a strong show.

- Alexandra Burke - she was excellent. Hand on heart, truthfully very good indeed. No oversinging whatsoever, very acting and dance focused (she's a very good dancer, which I didn't realise, knowing very little about her). I really enjoyed her portrayal. She felt completely in control throughout - no shortcuts in the choreography/blocking either. She does the cartwheel etc. Her acting initially felt a bit ropey. She seemed to do it in a thick Southern US accent, which didn't entirely fit, but this seemed to ease up to match everyone else's as the show went on. I don't know if this is directed or what she naturally finds as an American neutral accent, but it was a bit hillbilly in the first Act. Overall, superb, singing was very good, dancing perhaps even better. Acting was fine - she got by.

- Martin Kemp - not brilliant. I've seen worse mind (Ian Kelsey). He can't sing very well and struggles keeping steps. Appears to do very little in "Razzle Dazzle" and "All I Care About" - does a weird soft show shuffle thing, which I don't remember anyone else doing on the line 'go into your dance'? Correct me if I'm wrong. It's all a bit awkward. Doesn't cheat the final note of 'Both Reached For the Gun' which is actually one of the strongest numbers of the whole show. So he isn't all bad. Just a bit out of his depth alongside proper singers. Wouldn't recommend but certainly is up to the job in that role, in this show - if you follow my meaning. Oh, American accent very dodgy too.

- Mazz Murray - really good! I certainly wouldn't normally be a fan of Mazz. At all. But she suits this role perfectly as Mama Morton. Can't imagine anyone doing it better really, which is huge praise. It is a bit of a rubbish role though. But she really nails it. Very, very good.

- Paul Ryder - the audience loved this guy as Amos. Why?! He must just click. He's quite short and balding, I guess theres the sympathy thing, especially given how ruthless Roxie was being played. But his singing is barely passable and his accent..?!? He just does the thing in an English accent.

Wasn't sitting there taking notes on the ensemble but I enjoyed them and the show.

Certainly wouldn't rush back at full price; it's as cheapo as it ever was. Desperately needs another 10 on the stage. Look what 42nd Street provides every night! But I'd happily see it again with a cast equal or better than this for £30. Very enjoyable evening and a real surprise, especially considering my expectations.

If I didn't cover anything, please feel free to ask and I'll be happy to answer, if I remember!

Thank You for the information!  Back when I lived in America most libraries had the same system but it was more of a we will get the book if we feel like it and, when I lived in Lubbock (West Texas) it was $7.00 per book through the interlibrary loan system which can add up quickly.