Chicago The Musical

Cuba Gooding Jr. gets top billing in the new revival of ‘Chicago.’

But can Gooding sing and dance? Does it matter? ‘Chicago’ is still a show with lots of razzle and dazzle.

In it’s third visit to London (and after a UK tour) Chicago has landed in the perfect venue that is The Phoenix Theatre. And in this intimate theatre, we are treated to all sorts of glitz and glamour with Gooding adding the star wattage, but the rest of the cast shining brighter with their excellent theatrical talents.

Sarah Soetaert is absolutely fabulous as Roxie, a woman who shot her lover point blank, even though she’s got a loving (yet neglected) husband Amos (played by Paul Rider) at home. Roxie is sent to prison for murder where she encunters Velma Kelly (Josefina Gabrielle) who also is in the clink for murder. along with several other women, who all sing an excellent number called ‘Cell Block Tango,’ where they tell their murderous exploits stories, while they are all overseen by warden Matron ‘Mama’ Morton (Ruthie Henshall).

This is where Cuba Gooding Jr. comes in. He plays Billy Flynn, dashing and debonair, the lawyer who is hired by these famous murderesses to get them off murder charges. Yet he’s fickle, he is attracted to the hottest case, so he is not the loyal lawyer he should be.

It is, however, the music that makes Chicago extra special. Ignore the 1997 film (excellent all around with a perfect cast of Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger and Oscar winner Catherine Zeta Jones)  and experience this show live for yourself. The numbers keep on coming (all by the superb Fred Ebb and John Kander) who did the book with Bob Fosse), and includes one of the best numbers in a musical ‘We Both Reached for the Gun.’ The sets, costumes, and staging are all perfect, as is the the cast and backup dancers/singers. I was lucky enough to have seen the 1997 Broadway show (with Anne Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth) and while this version is not as good, Chicago is still a magical and a very entertaining show.