The classic 1973 American musical ’Chicago’, now playing in Sydney, is based on New York director Walter Bobbie’s 1996 City Cntre Encores production.
Bobbie’s production serves the play’s two heroines well, murderesses Velma Kelly (Caroline O’Connor) and Roxie Hart (Sharon Millerchip), who pursue fame, fortune and sex in the wild and crazy Chicago of the late 1920’s. Roxie manages to survive a murder charge by having the chicest barrister in town, Billy Flynn (Craig McLachlan), represent her in her trial.
Everything pumps in this ‘Chicago’. The cast deliver the songs with gusto. The opportunism and decadence of 20’s Chicago is there in every scene. Roxie’s scene when, after being let off the hook in her trial, she exits the court expecting the paparazzi, only to be inconsolable, when she finds that some other broad has just committed a murder and stolen her front page story, sums up the play’s main theme well.
The scene where Billy Flynn’s courtroom bravado is symbolically expressed by him tap-dancing vibrantly across the stage worked perfectly.
Bobbie’s production featured a brilliant design concept with the show’s orchestra, usually hidden way in the pit, taking the main stage, playing their hearts away in a giant, tiered jury box that faced out to the audience.
Chicago’ plays the Lyric Theatre, Casino until the 8th August.
