Review: Chicago musical delivers jailhouse razzle dazzle

One of the world’s favourite – and longest-running – musicals currently on Broadway is now dazzling South Aussies.

Review: Chicago the musical

Festival Theatre, until August 31

If it’s Razzle Dazzle you’re after to warm a winter’s night, Chicago the musical packs enough heat to fire up an entire cell block.

Anthony Warlow (as Billy Flynn) and the Australian cast of Chicago the musical. Picture: Jeff Busby

The brassy big band takes centre stage in this black-and-white production, which brings a stylish sense of film noir to its vaudevillian tale of murderous dames and media manipulation.

This stark, jazzy presentation puts the focus where it belongs, entirely on the music and dance – and boy, what magnificent tunes and routines they are.

From the opening number All That Jazz, all eyes are on Ann Reinking’s slinky, sexy choreography, which celebrates and elevates co-creator Bob Fosse’s signature cabaret steps with many a tip of the bowler hat and straddle of a Bentwood chair.

Zoe Ventoura (as Velma Kelly) and the Australian cast of Chicago the musical. Picture: Jeff Busby

Zoe Ventura is stunning as the jailhouse’s sultry celebrity killer Velma Kelly, executing incredible seated moves when her character “takes the stand” and even walking like an Egyptian in her solo “sister act”.

Ventoura delivers her sassy vocals with an equally delicious, piranha-like bite.

When a new murderess upsets the balance in the perky blonde form of Lucy Maunder as Roxie Hart – who gives new meaning to Me And My Baby – a battle for the headlines and vaudeville fame ensues.

In steps Anthony Warlow as silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, deftly doing the soft-shoe shuffle as he hits the sublime big notes on All I Care About and Razzle Dazzle, while playing the women off against each other.

Asabi Goodman (as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton) in Chicago the musical. Picture: Jeff Busby

Lucy Maunder (as Roxie Hart) in Chicago the musical. Picture: Jeff Busby

Maunder gets to shine in hilariously exaggerated routines as Roxie and Billy contrive her case for a sure-fire acquittal.

Most of these Kander and Ebb songs have now become standards, but are given fresh life with Asabi Goodman’s gravelly blues vocals on When You’re Good To Mama, and Peter Rowsthorn’s comical turn as Roxie’s hapless husband in Mr Cellophane.

Cell Block Tango is a definite highlight, when six of the incarcerated women declare “he had it coming” as they reveal the details of their cases – and flash a lot of flesh in their lingerie and sheer stockings. There’s plenty of eye candy on show among the male ensemble, too, with bared muscular torsos and jiggling behinds.

The ensemble is uniformly magnificent throughout, stepping in and out of minor character parts, and striking fabulous tableau poses around the main stars.

Machinegun fire punctuates proceedings for a mid-show massacre, and there’s a surprise reveal from the press gallery that you may not see – or hear – coming.

With its captivating fusion of toe-tapping melodies and ever-so-sexy moves, Chicago is the most fun you’ll ever have being locked up.

Patrick McDonald

HIT MUSICAL WOULD BE A CRIME TO MISS

It would be a crime to miss Chicago, say the arresting cast of the musical’s first Adelaide season in 25 years.

Show stars Anthony Warlow, Zoe Ventoura, Lucy Maunder, Peter Rowsthorn and Asabi Goodman went behind bars at the old Adelaide Gaol to get in the mood for Thursday’s official opening performance.

“It is spooky,” Warlow and Ventoura said in unison about being inside the former prison.

Chicago musical stars Anthony Warlow, Zoe Ventoura, Asabi Goodman, Peter Rowsthorn and Lucy Maunder at Adelaide Gaol. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

The longest-running musical currently on Broadway, Chicago stars Ventoura and Maunder as two women accused of murder, and Warlow as their charismatic lawyer who knows how to make and manipulate headlines.

“It’s based on a true story, which I think is fantastic,” Warlow said.

Warlow even likened his character to a certain US Presidential candidate, but says he “turned down the blonde wig and the patch on the ear”.

Chicago musical stars Anthony Warlow, Zoe Ventoura, Asabi Goodman, Peter Rowsthorn and Lucy Maunder at Adelaide Gaol. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Chicago musical stars Anthony Warlow, Zoe Ventoura, Asabi Goodman, Peter Rowsthorn and Lucy Maunder at Adelaide Gaol. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

“It has everything – it’s vaudeville, burlesque and cabaret in one evening,” he said.

Ventoura said Adelaide preview audiences had been “absolutely incredible”.

‘The response has been amazing … we’re really excited to be here,” she said.

Chicago is at the Festival Theatre until August 31.

chicagomusical.com.au