Review: Chicago at Liverpool Empire Theatre

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An all singing, all dancing cast of celebrities hits Liverpool Empire this week for the hit stage show Chicago. Based on a stage play originally written by Maurine Dallas Watkins in 1926, Chicago was written about real life criminals of the time. Watkins based her two characters on the 1924 murder trials of Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner and created the characters, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly.

It's a story of greed, adultery, murder and corruption, and one woman's ambition to be a star. Chorus girl Roxie Hart in a fit of rage shoots dead her lover and ends up in jail where she meets double murderer Velma Kelly. Velma is already a celebrity, everything that Roxie is not, until she meets her lawyer Billy Flynn. Smooth, suave and sexy he helps Roxie steer clear from the gallows and by taking every cent she and her hapless husband, Amos have, turns her into the star she wants.

All the action was on the stage for this production, as the band was incorporated into the set which worked and didn’t distract. As this is a very full on show, as in big numbers, Director Walter Bobbie had all the cast on the stage most of the way through. The platform that was the band's home also doubled up for many entrances and exits and was used well throughout, adding a extra layer to the set.

Tupele Dorgu's performance as Velma Kelly was not disappointing. She delivers her performance with gusto and her characterisation of Kelly is sexy and punchy. She really makes this her own character and with a big personality that Velma Kelly is, Dorgu does a superb job. Her dancing and singing is flawless and alongside the 'girls' she proves to be one of the strongest on stage.

Alongside Dorgu, we have Ali Bastian, the sassy blond. Bastian takes on a big role here as Roxie Hart, and at times does not quite hit the mark. The character seemed too big, and consequently some of her numbers seemed quite lost. With the bigger numbers and the ensemble cast around her they seemed to lift her, and in particular the scenes with Billy Flynn (Stefan Booth), these were her strongest moments.

Jamie Baughan as Amos Hart, won the audience over with his one and only number 'Mister Cellophane.' Playing a very different role was Stefan Booth who had his fair share of the bigger numbers and played them out very well. He played Billy Flynn with charm and a coolness that was engaging and entertaining to watch.

Rounding off the celebrity list, we have Bernie Nolan who plays the Matron of the prison. As was expected Nolan did not disappoint with voice, but again, seemed to be swallowed up by the bigger personalities on stage. A beautiful duet with her and Dorgu in the second half though which seemed to give her the bigger voice, but not character.

This is a show that wants to 'Razzle and Dazzle', but there was so much more that could be done. The singing and dancing was faultless, big, bold and sexy. But what dazzle there was only appeared in the second act, and by then it was too late. It didn't feel like the full musical experience, it needed more glitter and definitely more jazz.

6/10
Chicago The Musical is on at the Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday 07th July.
Contact box office on 0844 871 3017 for more information