Chicago full of razzle-dazzle

THE musical Chicago is playing at the State Theatre at the Melbourne Arts Centre, and you will never see a better production anywhere in the world! This is Australian musical theatre at its zenith.

Produced by the Gordon Frost Organisation – John Frost and Suzanne Jones. The show recreation of the original Broadway production.

The cast headed by Casey O’Donovan (Matron ‘Mama’ Morton, and whose performance puts one in mind of the late, great, Ethel Merman, the Queen of Broadway); Jason Donovan (as Billy Flynn, is following in the footsteps of his father, actor Terrence Donovan); and, as the two charmingly, scheming murderesses, Natalie Basingthwaite (as Roxie Hart), and Alinta Chidzey (as Velma Kelly – who dances like the late Gwen Verdon, and burns-up the stage in a riveting performance. She is a star who could take her place on Broadway without missing a beat). Rodney Dobson, as the long-suffering optimist husband, Amos Hart, and J. Furtado as reporter Mary Sunshine, are a couple of brilliant theatrical treats.

The ridiculously talented male/female ensemble – without whom the piece would never work – sing, dance and act their way through a cavalcade of roles and characters in an ingenious design which concentrates on the actors, dancers, and singers.

The on-stage musicians, under the baton of musical director, Daniel Edmonds, magnificently recreate the musical swing of the 1920s. The late Bob Fosse changed the face of modern dance, and his original Broadway choreography is a challenge for any dancer.

This group of physically glorious dancers rise, effortlessly, to the task, giving us some of the sharpest, cleanest, and freshest routines, and never-ending gravity-defying lifts, seen on any stage – anywhere. They are world class, by any standard.

Chicago has been honoured with six Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. An estimated 17-million people around the world have seen the musical and it has played over 15,000 performances worldwide.

This multi-award winning production is filled with a superb score including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Razzle Dazzle. It’s no wonder The London Times called it “the sharpest, slickest show on the block”.

Chicago is playing until 23 February. If you love musicals, don’t miss it!