Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...dear to our hearts..." Chicago in the early 1930s. A city where killing is a form of entertainment and where, if you're lucky, you can get away with murder. Chicago tells the story of Roxie Hart, a woman who killed her lover and is sent to prison facing the death penalty. But Roxie's biggest ambition is to be famous and have her own vaudeville act, and she soon discovers that, with a little bending of the truth and a little media manipulation, her ...
...was alive today, living in Chicago and had $5000 things might have turned out a little differently". In prison Roxie meets Velma Kelly, a vaudeville star who shot her husband and sister after catching them in bed together. Cue intense rivalry between Roxie and Velma as they each battle for their place in the spotlight. Chicago was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb (the same people who brought you Cabaret) in the 1970s and has experienced a fantastic ...

bubblegum_princess 10.04.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

Chicago the musical is undergoing a brand new lease of life at the moment. The combined 'bums on seats' appeal of Denise Van Outen and Alison Moyet has meant that more people are seeing Chicago than ever before. Denise has since gone to maybe star in the Broadway version but Alison Moyet is still on board but is Chicago any good? Well, let's begin with the opening line of the show: "Welcome ladies and gentlemen- you are about to see a story of murder, ...
...Well- put it this way Chicago is not your tradtional musical built on the notion of true love. Think about past hits of the stage- Grease, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, - each has a love story running through the core. Hence, their soundtracks have featured love songs a plenty for the audience to hum. What's so refreshing about Chicago is that the humour and the tone is very black, indeed. Roxie Hart (Anita Louise Combe) is up on a murder charge. She ...

Mr-Ripley 21.01.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...Primarily set in a 1940’s Chicago women’s jail, it follows the story of Roxie Hart, who kills her lover when he decides to end their affair. She is married to the ‘Mr. Beanesque’ Amos Hart, a rotund little man, balding and so in love with his wife that he often overlooks her travesties in order not to lose her. She is arrested, and put into this jail to await her trial. Her lawyer is the evangelical Billy Flynn, whose hook ...
...in it for the money, just like everyone else. The warden of the women’s jail is Matron “Mama” Morton, who looks after her ‘girls’ in similar fashion to a brothel madam. She’ll also do anything for her girls, for a price. From there, it is simply a story of how they will present the case to the courts, and to stop Roxie being hanged for murder. Other characters then come to the fore, like the newspaper reporter, ...

Spacecat 23.09.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...Without giving too much away Chicago is set in the American city of the same name, in the 1930s. Velma is accused of killing her husband, while Roxie is accused of killing her ‘lover’. The tale takes you inside the prison where we meet Mama who is one of the bentest prison wardens ever. In these times headline grabbers are stars, and murderers get headlines. The story unfolds into a highly entertaining story with plenty of songs to keep your interest. ...
...I would highly recommend Chicago the musical, it is thoroughly enjoyable and despite just a few hiccups the show was brilliant. The seats were full at my showing, and everyone appeared to enjoy it, with not one word of complaint issued within the sounds of my ears. The show has no violence and is probably suitable for most ages that are old enough to enjoy theatre shows. The theatre does offer cheaper seats, though they would be in the circles, ...

dabmim 15.12.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...Christ had been born in Chicago and if he's had $5000, things mighta turned out differently"; and allong the way she dances and sings her way to ... well ... I won't spoil the ending for you. Suffice to say the show finishes in STYLE! In case you haven't heard of Bob Fosse, I'll fill you in before I gon on as this is as much an homage to the Legendary Genius as it is a great production in it's own right. Fosse was a Broadway Choreographer/Director ...
...sexy that even today it is instantly recognisable. Under his supervision the Broadway musical explored darker and more controversial themes than ever before. It is this style that Ann Reinking, production choreographer; Fosse protege and one time lover, re-creates so brilliantly here. Don't get me wrong, this isn't just a recreation, a carbon copy production. Reinking has taken Fosse's style; his technique and re-invented it for a modern audience. ...

monalipschitz 10.09.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...of the stage musical of Chicago not the new film version starring a certain publicity seeking CZJ. Compared to the film the stage show is simplicity itself. You see where other musicals try to out do each other in terms of the grand spectacle – Miss Saigon has the helicopter, Phantom the Chandelier and Les Miserables the Barricades – Chicago simply doesn’t go there and neither does it need to. ***THE STORY*** I guess you know you’re going to be in ...
...to the world of the Chicago jazz scene and through her we are shown the story of a cold blooded murder committed by a nightclub chorus girl, called Roxie Hart. Roxy, married to Amos, is sleeping around (similar, in her own words, to playing around but without dinner) and her latest lover, a regular to the nightclub, called Fred Casely is about to walk out on her. She does what any proud girl would do and shoots him dead. She manages to convince Amos ...

Critchyboy 03.03.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

I have never been a great fan of musicals, I try to avoid going to them as much as possible, and before I saw Chicago, to me it was merely a boring musical that needed avoiding. It was far from that. It turned out to be a hilarious, original, well constructed, acted and played masterpiece, full of women in little more than black lingerie! The basis of the play is to mock the typical play by the famous playwright, .... whose name I ashamedly cant ...
...play's crude plot is based on the constant focus of attention in the state Chicago, which EVERYONE wants. Denise Van Outen - previously underestimated by myself - plays a desperate married American who kills her lover who she is having an affair with, for cheating on her! She acts and sings surprisingly well, as well as exposing her long long legs! The orchestra are on the stage throughout playing fantastically, taking up most of it, but they become ...

zak-2 25.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...just over £50 which is not too bad for a really good night out. I have never met anyone who has seen Chicago and not enjoyed it. Go, but when you do, make sure that you buy the soundtrack because you will be singing along to it for weeks! ...

catshark88 07.06.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

...So begins the musical Chicago the kiss-and-tell tale of Roxie Hart, a nightclub dancer who kills her love, Billy Flynn, a sharp lawyer who turns Roxie into a celebrity; and Velma Kelly, a dancing jailbird with an ear for the headlines and an eye for talent. It is a loving look back at vaudeville, a timely satire on the justice system, and above all a reminder of what great theatre can be. Chicago is a musical like no other I have seen, completely ...
...and is always emphasised by the on-stage band, which are involved in the action of the show, a brilliant idea! The story is all set within the Jazz style; classy clothing is used throughout on all the characters, to keep up that theme. The sexy lace, fishnets and tight tops of the dancers showed the snazzy, stylised and sexy style right through the show, and the stunning dancing and chorography really oozed style, infact the who show oozes style, ...

chriscoxie 22.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

this show is definately different from most other musicals - it is for the adults amoungst you and not really a family show cos the story is of a more adult theme. The dancers are brilliant with les dawson making a cameo appearance the show is a great laugh and one not to be missed even if it isn't one of the big west end shows - it does get the audiences though. I have seen many westend shows and this is one of the most original and not one that ...

joelamathews 18.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

Chicago has had mixed reviews, so I was unsure if it was worth going. But when my sister offered me tickets, I thought "why not?", and I'm so glad I went!! I loved this show, it had a buzz from start to finish. I'd say that front row seats were definately worth it - you can watch the every move and breathe of the dancers. It was funny and a real pick-me-up style musical. At the end it left a very happy crowd. I really enjoyed this and would recommend ...

queenjewls 12.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)

Went to se chicago after a long wait and absolutley loved it at the moment there is no one particulary famous in it but the actors and actresses did themselves proud if you liked the film then this is definatley for you, you'l stamp your fet all the way through it. Don't really think some chracters matched the parts they played however they did well. The costumes were bright and sparkly and the props mainly chairs were used to there ful potential. ...
...to buy drinks and snacks at the interval, also the first half is particulary long so make sure you go to the toilet before you go in. We sat in row P which was an extremely god view of the stage and my partner who isn't realy into this sort of thing throughly enjoyed it. Limited parking facilities in covent garden either to expensive or no space so I would advise the bus. ...

sashaholness 10.11.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Chicago The Musical / Adelphi Theatre (London)