Chicago is the longest running musical revival in Broadway history, and still runs on Broadway today. It is easy to see why after viewing the final dress rehearsal of the Variety Theatre of Ashburton’s production of the show at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre last night. The pace of the Variety Theatre of Ashburton production is picked up right from the start, courtesy of a punchy opening with All That Jazz led by the callous vaudevillian murderess Velma Kelly, given all the seductive sassiness her character deserves by an accomplished Megan Hamilton. Roxie Hart, captivatingly played by Layna Hunt, is soon on the scene, laying dead her lover, and singing about her plight, in the first of a range of brilliant performances by the young NASDA graduate. Favourite performances of mine included the Roxie Hart and Billy Flynn ventriloquist act in We Both Reached For the Gun, the latter character well played by Blair McHugh, and Mr Cellophane by Roxie’s husband Amos played by NASDA graduate Matt Van Den Yssel, and Class featuring the prison matron Mama played by Kate Taylor, and Velma. In the latter number viewers may well have wondered was that really just two women sitting at side stage singing, as it was a performance which owned the whole stage, if not the whole theatre. It is not just the main actors which bring this production to life, but the star quality of supporting actors, singers and dancers. Not to mention the great lighting, an amazing LED screen backdrop, and stage setting and costumes which epitomise all the razzle and dazzle of the 1920s jazz scene that is Chicago. Director Regan Jackson, musical director Luke di Somma and choreographer Amber Bailey can take a bow for what is sure to be a successful run of shows at the event centre. And with a sell-out almost confirmed for tonight, it seems just a matter of time before all shows follow suit. Chicago, with a ticket price of $55, is staging through to May 24. - Susan Sandys
Posted on: Fri, 16 May 2014 23:53:25 +0000
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