NOTE: THE REVIEWS BELOW REFER TO THE PRODUCTIONS AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE UNTIL APRIL 2006, AND CAMBRIDGE THEATRE UNTIL AUGUST 2011. Though the production remains similar, sadly, the popular cheap seats in row AA do not exist at the show's new home, the Garrick Theatre.

Please note: Some reviews can contain "spoilers" - please don't read if this bothers you! __________________________________________________

Chicago is quite simply THE BEST musical currently playing in London. I am going next week for my 5th time in two years. When I saw Denise Van Outen in it she completely blew me away, she can sing, she can dance... and she has a great personality - just right for the show!!

I saw Alison Moyet as Mama Morten - another fabulous performance.... Everything about the show screams FUN!!!!!!

I cannot believe the monkey's comments for this show... you
really must see it to believe it - everybody I have introduced it to has loved it, and most have gone back for at least a second time!!!

Stuart Earle
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I agree with theatremonkey entirely. If it wasn't for the height of my seat from the stage, I would of fallen asleep
Edward Bernstone
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I agree with Edward Bernstone and Theatremonkey entirely. I mean, singing about murder! Not a very happy story line is it!
Edward Barber
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Impressious - is a simplest definition. It's nice to play CD with soundtrack when you are driving at night along the seashore a thousand miles away from London - you feel "ALLTHATRAZZLEDAZZLEJAZZ". This musical is a kind of lifelong experience.........
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Saw the show very recently and was very impressed.

Marti Pellow (who has now left the show) was fantastic as were the rest of the cast, cannot agree with the comments about the show being dull and boring and not keeping your interest. The interval was upon us in no time at all

Took Theatremonkey's tip on best seats and booked row AA right at the front, WOW!! had to duck the high kicks superb seats and £10 cheaper than the row behind and got a rose from Velma.

Steve
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Went to see Chicago last night (7th November 2002)...and still smiling this morning!

I took my girlfriend and like Steve I went for row AA right at the front. I can tell you being about six feet from that many fishnets does things to a man...needless to say my girlfriend was far from impressed. And when Roxy threw me a rose at the end I think it was the last straw and she left!!

The performance was ok but I'll remember it for other reasons.

Ben
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Saw the show on Saturday 1st Feb 2003. Took the monkey's (and others) advice and went for row AA. Utterly superb. You feel as if you are a part of the show - I think that the closer you are to the "action" the more you enjoy the show!! All performances were spot-on - couldn't fault any part of it. RECOMMENDED!
Terry Hurley
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Murder... Danger... seduction....Thud...

Thats about as much as I heard before I fell asleep in this simply disastrous musical. My friend and I went to see Chicago (the touring production outside London) for her 16th, and felt thoroughly let down.

We had Nick Cotton playing the lead in ours, and I'm afraid he 'aint no teen heart throb! the whole play lacked energy and feeling. The costumes were all black, with a token garment, something which would have worked in one of Brecht's pieces, or a school play, but not something which is meant to be as lavish as Chicago.

I mean, it really says something when scantily clad women, and tight trousered men make for a boring night out!

Danielle
Cardiff. South Wales.
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I direct for an amateur company in North UK. I went to see Chicago last summer (2002). Sat in the Dress Circle about 3 rows back. The seats were appalling - very cramped and uncomfortable. The theatre was stiflingly hot.
The show was good but not, in my opinion, wonderful by any means. Half the production details were dropped (I know the show - directed it 2 years previously) and the stage was cut down because of the static orchestra. Choreography was good. Set was non existent. Lighting was good - not unusual or exceptional.

I got the general impression that people said the show was excellent because that was what they were expected to say! I thought it was done on the cheap.

Decided to leave at the interval, but was persuaded to stay and managed to get an aisle seat which had a bit more room. Noticed that there were several empty seats which had previously been filled.

Complained by letter to the theatre - reply said ' Thanks for comment - shall pass them on..''

What a waste of an evening!!
Stuart
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For what it's worth - and I appreciate that it's not everyone's cup of tea - I think Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre is a wonderful musical. It's gutsy, sexy, catchy and showcases some of our best dancers with those fabulous Bob Fosse moves.

Occasionally it's marred by a "guest star" who doesn't quite cut the mustard. But I won't let that put me off. I'm going to see it for a fifth time this very night (13th May 2003)!

James Gardiner
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Can you say amazing?

I was lucky enough to get tickets for Ruthie Henshall's limited run as Velma Kelly (summer 2003), and though I'm a fan of hers anyway, she honestly was fantastic. From seeing the film, I hadn't realised how much humour there was in it, and feel that vital parts were missed out (as often is in film adaptations).

Billy Flynn seemed a bit weak, but Amos, Roxie, and Mama dazzled. 

The set with the orchestra and one prop - the ever used chair - worked surprisingly well. Though I'm used to seeing extravagant set design, the minimalist effect suits the musical to a tee.

I was sitting high up - row K in the Upper Circle, and though I didn't miss much from that position, I felt as though I was outside the action, and the actors were all performing to the lower levels, which is in complete contrast to other shows such as "Saturday Night Fever" and "Les Mis". Also, the fire exit sign was really bright, and the curtains leading out of the auditorium were left open.

Chicago is DEFINITELY worth seeing by anyone who is a fan of the type of music, or who just enjoys good theatre.

Kyrsty Mewett
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It was a sweltering hot day and there were problems with the trains, but we made it to London in plenty of time. It was hot in the foyer but when the auditorium doors opened, a refreshing cool blast of air con escaped and I said a prayer of thanks.

We had booked row BB and the leg-room was comfortable. We wondered where the band was - we could hear them warming up - so we concluded they were round the back somewhere (as it turned out they were on stage and that kept the music at the very heart of the action, of which there was plenty).

It was good being so close to the stage, we had to keep looking from side to side to keep track of everyone's movements, there was so much going on. I felt involved with the show. It was brilliant, tip-top all the way through.
It's hard to single anyone out because they all had a part to play in the mood and ambience the show created, but Linzi Hateley as Roxy was terrific - such a talented lady. I want to see it all again - very soon.

Elaine
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My sister and I went to see Chicago on Monday 22nd September 2003 at the Adelphi Theatre in London after being told by many that it was a "must see show".

I have to say that it's the BEST show that I've seen, we sat in Row AA which suited us fine as we can never see with heads in the way.

Admittedly we did go to see Kevin Richardson play the role of Billy Flynn and I have to say that he exceeded all expectations, Ruthie, Frances and Richard were also incredible as well as the dancers, truly a sensational cast.

I never thought the show would be so entertaining and funny but it was and we are definitely going to see it again.

Joy
London
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Okay guys first things first...
THE SHOW IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE FILM
I have been to see the show three times and each time it was fantastic, the first time I saw the show I sat in Row G of the stalls, and this gave a great overall view of the action, on the next two visits I sat in Row B and it has to be said that with this show the closer the better!! From the second row of the stalls it felt like a personal performance, we were that close we could maintain eye contact with the performers throughout the show, and at the end got showered with roses!!

Granted that it might not be everybody’s idea of a great musical, but I think that the smoky minimalist set, tale of sleaze, murder and showbiz, skimpy costumes, fantastic music and great performing made for a brilliant two hours. All of the performers were fantastic especially R. Henshall as Velma and L. Hateley (left September 2003) as Roxie, and the abundance of females in VERY revealing costumes certainly raised a few pulses in the audience (as a red blooded male I have to say some of the women were HOT!!)

Chicago is NOT your average “happy clappy” musical where every word gets sung, the plot is so far removed from reality that its unbelievable and the villains always get caught!! The story and comedy are dark and seductive, the emotions raw and the talent abundant!! The satire and sarcasm (along with a few of the best songs,) were totally omitted in the film meaning it was poor in comparison to this amazing production!!

 I highly recommend anyone who wants a great night out, go see Chicago, its got something for all, be it comedy, music or just great theatre (along with gorgeous women!!)
You will, like it or not, leave the theatre humming the songs!!

Chicago is sexy, sassy, seductive, sarcastic, theatrical genius.

A really really great show!!

 So what are you waiting for….GO SEE IT!!

 J. Farley
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I first saw Chicago in August 2003, with Ruthie Henshall as Velma and Linzi Hateley as Roxie. When I went in I had never heard of Ruthie Henshall, but by the time the show was over I was her biggest fan! She was amazing as Velma, and I knew I had to come and see Chicago again before the end of her run. 

I came again in October 2003, this time with Frances Ruffelle as Roxie, and Kevin Richardson (Backstreet Boys) as Billy Flynn. It was just as amazing as the first time, and we had much better seats. I was in row B of the stalls, almost dead centre. It's great to be near the front because all the action is right in front of you, and you can see every facial expression and fully appreciate the great acting. 

I saw the film at the cinema when it first came out, and having never seen the stage show I absolutely loved the movie. But when I saw it on the stage, I wondered why I had ever thought the film was that great. The stage version is much better, and has much more comedy, because Chicago after all, is a satire, and they didn't really show that side of it in the movie as much as they do in the stage show. 

In conclusion, a fantastic musical! If you only go and see one show this year, make it Chicago!

And all that jazz!
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I made a real effort to give my wife an original "extra" Xmas present this year (2003). So what better than a trip to the West End, to see Chicago?

Well, what a disappointment, we both like the theatre but we feel cheated at the expense of the tickets and the complete lack of any imagination from the props and costume departments. We were both expecting a show to take our breath away, but sadly the only thing that was taken away was the 5 hours spent travelling from Manchester, we could have stayed in Manchester and opted to go to an amateur dramatics play and had better value for money. Why didn't we, I hear you say? Easy! The Adelphi Theatre, London, a West End Musical.
I would not recommend this musical if you are looking for the magic of theatre and a night to remember for all the right reasons.

David and Michelle Mulvey
Manchester.
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Dark, intriguing and dismal. I loved it! This show is hugely unique, on a different scale. I have not seen a show like it. An original score, set and storyline all add up to a brilliant night out!

Simplicity is the key with "Chicago". Never has a musical worked so well with so little set. And the point is there is no need for set whatsoever. The lavish and luscious dancing creates an amazing presence that i have never felt due to dance within a musical.

"Chicago" is also very cleverly written. It doesn't seem like a complex storyline when you are watching it but on the ride home you realise how cleverly complex the script and music actually is.

If you are looking for a fun yet satisfying musical night out head for "Chicago" and experience the 'razzle-dazzle' "Chicago" embodies like no other production

Ben Wooldridge
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Haven't got a good night's sleep in ages?

Go to Chicago.

Believe me - all the jazz won't keep you up.

Alf
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Alf , I can't believe you have such a strong, negative opinion on this musical considering how brilliant it is! If you are going to make a comment about probably the most original production in the West End then please give some evidence too!

Ben Wooldridge
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Last week (May 2004) I took my 9 year old daughter and my 7 year old son to see this. They are both major fans of the film and really enjoyed the stage version. Marti Pellow was very good and Mama embarrassed my son beautifully by singing and winking at him!. Great to be in stalls row AA.
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This show is still up there in the all time greats of theatre and my last minute jaunt to the Adelphi proved that. We got three seats together in the side stalls on row N (which are red on the theatremonkey plan but I didnt find them a problem at all) - I think any further back and you do get a restricted view at certain points in the show.
Right! onto the show. To my dismay, Eurovision starlet Frances Ruffelle was not doing her thing on Tuesday night so Cecilia Low took over the role of Roxy and my god she was good as was her colleague Tiffany Graves (the woman with the scariest high kicks in the business!...they go past her head!). My only problem was the two girls have very different voices and often Tiffany simply blew Cecilia out of the water. But that aside the cast are still incredibly strong.

I was pleasantly surprised by Marti Pellow who was smarmy and slick as Billy and Paul Leonard proving to be a fantastic Amos and not forgetting a fab Zee Asha as Mama. However the star of the show (as usual) has to be the wonderful Morgan Crowley as Mary Sunshine...to all those who saw the film I urge you to see the show as it, thank god, includes the best songs that were annoyingly cut from the film and "Mary Sunshine" is how she should be portrayed not by some big lipped woman who once used to be in "Sybill"!

Band were as usual excellent (make sure you stay for the playout music at the end ...really rather good fun with the band). as for the chorus...not one bad apple in this bunch. All gave strong performances especially from Bob J Harms (yum).

One little tip for you...when you go to the TKTS booth in Leicester Sq and they say they have no "Chicago" tickets left, ask them to ring the Adelphi for you - we did this and it worked! Go see it and enjoy...I intend to go again and again. Its a beautiful show played by beautiful people (and I mean beautiful).

Chris May
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Chicago is a good night out but by no means incredible. I felt the two lead women were lacking in the voice/singing department somewhat - especially the opening number All That Jazz - it would have been more impressive if it was belted out a bit more, had a bit more life. The dancing from the women was quite average I thought - and from the men, quite good.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of the set and the costumes, which I thought was excellent BUT didn't really fit with the show. For the staging and costumes to be that simple yet effective, the calibre of singing and dancing would have to be much, much higher to sustain interest. It's a pity because the production has so much potential - original and witty and if the dancing was much more complex and (as they say in the show) 'razzle-dazzle' it would have been much more stunning and enjoyable. As it was, I kept hoping for more and it wasn't delivered.
I was disappointed because I went expecting something quite 'dark' and found it wasn't - the show was performed in far too slapstick a manner, which detracted somewhat from the wit of the show... I loved Mama Hen and as someone else mentioned, Mr Cellophane was a complete winner! Roxy as a puppet was brilliant too... And the band were just brilliant.

Lisa Dempster
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Chicago is quite possibly the best musical ever! Please go and see it because it is so funny and with such a brilliant story line. And the fact that it has NO set makes it that much better! Go see it. NOW!

Aaron Butterfield
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My friend and I were at the 3rd June 2004 performance and loved every minute - we have seen it many times and thought it was the best yet. The cast were very professional, they looked great, acted well and sang with feeling. The leads worked very well together. (Marti Pellow, Cecilia Low and Tiffany Graves) (all sadly no longer in the show - Editor). They played up the comedy in the show, giving it a different edge to previous performances.
Marti looked fantastic, sang brilliantly and held the long note for what seemed like forever. I think he has perfected his American accent and hope he is a huge hit on Broadway. He deserves it. Superb show!!!!
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"Chicago" (July 2004) may have been spoiled for us by the film I guess. We certainly didn't find it as good as the film, and chatting to some people sitting next to us afterwards, it seemed a common theme.

Terrible mis-casting with Big Mama Thornton - I'm sorry, but I wanted a big mama like Queen Latifah in the movie. You expect a big, strong, possibly 'mannish' (I'm being polite here) woman in that role - not a feminine-looking woman wearing a suit. And she had no ooooomph. Her version of the Latifah song (can't remember the title, but the one "you be nice to Mama and Mama'll be nice to you" thing) was totally unforgettable.

And don't even get me started on Haselhoff! Oh my god - stiff as a board. I'm sure he still had the hanger in his suit. Although he carried a tune, he looked totally uncomfortable at any sign of dancing and shuffled around in a very self-conscious manner. And - where was the TAP DANCE??? How could they miss that whole scene out?

The sad thing was that there were some excellent bits in the show, but they were unfortunately interspersed with mis-casting and dullness! However - the orchestra was brilliant! I was surprised to see them on the stage like that, and actually taking part in the show itself - as I hadn't read anything in people's reviews on this site mentioning it? Have they always been on stage like that? They were great and seemed to get bigger cheers than any of the actors!!

There - that's my review!! Having said all that - the seats had an excellent view, and my knees weren't scraped too badly despite being in row B of the Dress Circle!
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My partner and I went to see this fantastic show on Friday 3rd September 2004 at 5.00pm. This was about the 7th or 8th time I had seen the show but it was my partner's first time and also his first West End show. Neither of us were disappointed. Then seats we had, on the front row, were excellent and theatremonkey was right - you did feel that you were in the show itself you were so close.

The performances were excellent and also Mr Hasselhoff gave a much better performance than I expected I must admit. The dancing and the comic elements are all still there and it is still a super show. Needless to say it has given my partner, a new theatregoer, the bug and he wants to see more.
I do have to say that the show far and away surpasses the movie version being a lot more "in your face" as it were. My partner was chuffed to bits when Velma Kelly threw him a rose from her bouquet at the end of the show, it was just a shame that the miserable gentleman sitting next to him pinched it when it dropped to the floor!!!

All in all we had a marvelous time and would recommend this excellent show to anyone.

Messrs Colin and Asa McCarthy-Burton
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My mum and dad took me to see Chicago for my 17th Birthday! I'm a Big Big fan of the DVD Chicago with Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones! So when I knew I was going I was well happy!

I saw it on the 30th October 2004 with Jennifer Ellison as Roxy Hart and Kay Murphy as Velma Kelly, Jonn Barrowman as Billy Flinn, Paul Baker as Amos and Sharon D Clarke as Matron Mama Morton. All I can say without going on forever that it was Fantastic.

It was a Brilliant night out. The acting and dancing from all cast was Superb! Ellison played a really good Roxy and Murphy was great too! The whole cast had voices to die for, Especially Sharon D Clarke! The men dances were pretty ;-) too!

I Recommend anyone looking for a Sassy, Sensual good time musical, Chicago is the one for you! I even got a rose thrown by Ellison at the end which made a good end to my birthday!

Christina
Kent, England.
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I saw the matinee of Chicago on 1st January 2005, What a good way to start the New Year!!
I had followed the advice of theatremonkey and bought AA seats 14-16. It definitely felt like we were in the show and my husband received a rose from Velma (made his day!!). Steep angle of viewing but for £10 less than the row behind it was well worth it!

I saw the film for the first time two weeks ago and was worried about how enjoyable the stage show would be. Didn't need to be - it was brilliant! Thanks for your advice on seating.
Chris
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Saw the 15th February 2005 production. A great, fun night out. Anna-Jane Case is outstanding, worth the ticket money on her own and does put all others a little in the shade. That said, Gill Halfpenny was fine as Roxy (when she was dancing alongside Anna-Jane it was though very clear who the pro' is) and Michael French makes a very fly Billy Flynn. Peter Baker was sufficiently “whimpish” as Amos. Donna Hazelton is very comic and has great lungs – she was a hit.  

The ensemble were clearly having fun and this came across well to the audience, even if the girls are there mostly for their looks (and very much appreciated too) and the guys are there for their pecs’ and butts!  
The true stars of the show are surely the orchestra. How refreshing it is being able to actually see west-end musicians plying their trade so enthusiastically.  

Seats, (Row A 9 to 12), were too low down – a lot of neck craning.  Would recommend from Row J and back. All round, well worth the ticket price.  
Gerry
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Jill Halfpenny Rocks as Roxie Hart! I went just to see her performance and was not disappointed. She is a rising star. The entire cast was superb. Anna-Jane Casey has a tremendous voice and Michael French is just scrumptious to look at.

As an American I thought they all did an excellent job with the American accents even though some of the women sounded more like they were from New York instead of Chicago.

Alexis.
American living in Germany.
Performance: February 19th, 2005.
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Went to see Chicago last night (25th February 2005) and that it was absolutely fantastic. A real feel-good show.  
Jill Halfpenny as Roxie was superb and what she lacked in technical ability she made up for in sensuality and emotional expression. Casey was spectacular with an amazing voice, and well what can I say say about the dancers - the male dancers are simply yummy and I'm sure my brother-in-law thought the same thing of the girls.  

Absolutely everybody in the cast and orchestra looked as if they were thoroughly enjoying themselves which was totally infectious!

Mo.
London.
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What a wonderful wonderful show.

I took theatremonkey's advice and booked seats AA15 and 16 and you felt like you were in the show.
Both my friend and I thought that Michael French was sensational as Billy Flynn. Both his accent and signing voice were perfect. Jill Halfpenny was also very good - no trace at all of that Geordie accent and both her singing and dancing were excellent. 

Amongst the highlights of the show were Mr Cellophane and the wonderful puppet routine between Michael French and Jill Halfpenny - superb. I think Donna Hazelton's voice was very good, but she just needs to open it up a bit.

A must to go and see, I think better than the film.

Chris Bennett
Performance seen: Friday 25th February 2005
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We saw the matinee of Chicago on Saturday 12 March 2005. With Theatre Monkey's guidance, we booked row AA seats 15 and 16 and have never had better seats! You feel as though the performance is in your front room and whilst you do have to tilt your neck back to see, it was not a hardship at all, and there was also stacks of leg room. Being so close meant you were really able to see all the expression that the actors and actresses put into their parts. It did however mean that you got a real "knicker-line" view which was O.K. for us but the elderly couple next to us weren't quite sure about it!! 

Jill Halfpenny was surprisingly very good, as was Michael French and for me, the highlights were "All that Jazz" and "Both went for the gun".

It was a fantastic show, the cast and orchestra were superb and the seats were awesome - thanks Theatre Monkey
Mandi
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Saw it on Saturday matinee March 19th 2005.
Booked it specifically to see Jill Halfpenny on the strength of her Strictly Come Dancing win and we weren't disappointed. She was simply awesome .... to go from a soap star to a West End lead is not something many could do ....... we were hugely impressed, she is a big star. Also loved Michael French, he was born to play Billy Flynn.

The good thing about the show is that they all seem to enjoy themselves so much, including the orchestra, which makes for a fun day out for us all . We could have quite happily sat through it again that night.

On Theatremonkey's recommendation we booked the stalls, row G, and the view was superb. Not too close to crane your neck but close enough to feel part of it.
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Saturday 2nd April 2005

Just returned and had to put down (the show) a few comments. I was utterly disappointed with Chicago, having been given a pair of tickets as 
Christmas presents. The build up to tonight's show was eagerly awaited.

The seats, Dress Circle (D19 & D20) were good and comfortable for each half. I have had much, much worse seating in other theatres. 

Where is the scenery, there is none, just plain, bare walls and floors in black. The only props used are chairs in a nice black shade.

The orchestra pit is located centre stage painted black and members wear black. The players costumes are black. There is no colour on stage just the odd highlight of colour from spotlights in the second half.

The audience were quite kind to the performers and warmed to the show. Why??, I can only think there were all visitors and could only go to one or two shows in London. 

I took a few cat naps after 1 hour as I lost the plot. I was quite prepared to leave at the interval and go and have a drink in the many pubs and clubs in the Strand.

I cannot recommend this show and I can only think as others have said that it has been done on the cheap. Each ticket was priced at £42.50 and the ticket hot line phone number has been replaced with an 0870 premium number, but they do not mention that anywhere. My friend with me also felt disappointed with the show.

Paul
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I went to see the matinee performance of Chicago on 9th April 2005 for my 21st Birthday.

First of all, I was so pleased that Jill Halfpenny was still in the cast, as she was the main reason I wanted to see it.

Jill is absolutely amazing. Her accent, singing and dancing were all spot on and I was so impressed by her. She has true talent and she will go far.

I was hooked throughout the whole show and I couldn't find one fault with anything in the show. I easily would have sat and watched it all over again.

I agree with another reviewer, the puppeteer act between Jill and Simon Breen, who was excellent as Billy Flynn, was amazing.

I would recommend it!

Louisa
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I went along with two friends to see Chicago on 8 April 2005. Jill Halfpenny was still playing Roxy and she was excellent, as was the rest of this highly professional cast.

As always, I checked with the monkey to find out about the best seats. On several reviewers' recommendations, I chose AA 21, 22 and 23. When we first sat down, I was apprehensive as I had never been that close to the stage. As soon as it started though all my fears evaporated - the cast looks directly at you because they can't see beyond the front rows. We could even see the finer details of their make-up and yes, gratuitous views of a more intimate nature. I also managed to catch a rose at the end of the performance. Good value seats (£30), if you want to be in the thick of things and get the entire experience of the show.

Lastminute.com had seats available for £25 but you can't choose your seat, so I thought the extra £5 was worth it to be able to have some influence over where I was seated.

This must be the most energetic performance in the West End - bravo to the entire cast. 

Che 
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I went to see "Chicago" for my birthday present with the rest of my family and overall I was not disappointed.

I was apprehensive of how Michael French would make the transition from screen to stage but my fears were laid to rest after the first few bars 'All I Care About is Love'. His accent was consistent and well projected and he suited the role brilliantly.

Roxie Hart was played by a very competent actress whose name escapes me! Her solo in 'Roxie' was brilliant and her voice was loud and powerful. She captured Roxies' cheeky character perfectly.

The downside of the performance was Anna Montanaro as Velma Kelly. Her American accent was AWFUL - a mix of American and German which resulted in an almost unlistenable drone. Her voice was weak and she really didn't do any of the big numbers any justice - 'All that Jazz' would have fallen flat on its face if it weren't for the excellent chorus. Her dancing was good but the vocal really let her down.

Andy B
Saw it on 21st April 2005
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If you really don't like 20's style jazz and big bands give this one a miss but if like me you love anything to do with the 20's and big bands in particular then this is the show for you.

Where else will you have a full big band on stage performing with not just 2 or 3 singers but a whole chorus line of excellent singers and dancers? Many wonder if it will spoil their enjoyment of the stage show if they have seen the film first. I would say see the film first then you will understand the plot fully and already start to really appreciate the wonderful music for when you hear it again. The stage show is really like bullet lines of the plot as shown in the film and could be a little difficult to follow especially as the band almost fills the stage. You would not expect scenery at a band concert so don't expect any here. It didn't concern me as you need a lot of imagination in following the dramatic plot and the performers really bring it to life with much humour which is rather surprising considering the plot.

I have now seen the show twice. Once 2 years ago with 2 coach loads and April 29th 2005 when I only ran 1 coach. We were all looking forward to seeing Jill Halfpenny and Michael French and were disappointed that Jill had left although Brooke Shields made a good shot at doing Roxie Hart. Michael French had left / jumped / been pushed / sacked ??? after a dispute with Brooke Shield but Simon Breen was an excellent Billy Flynn and certainly did not detract from our enjoyment. I felt Anna Montanaro as Velma Kelly, although a great dancer, just doesn't have the voice compared to the official CD or the film.

It is a however a great show with some super songs and catchy phrases and that Big Band is absolutely superb. I would willingly pay to go to this show just to see and hear the band.

John E Oliver
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My wife and I went to see Chicago on the 14th May 2005. We had stalls seats AA 17 and 18 on Theatremonkey's recommendation. What can I say, they were absolutely fabulous, you really felt part of the show. I was worried about having to crane my neck but this was not the case. We were so impressed we have booked a further 3 tickets for August. Brooke Shields did not disappoint us and neither did the rest of the cast and band members.
 
 Paul,
 Worcestershire.
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I have seen Chicago twice - first on the 15th February 2005 and second on the 25th March 2005. I thought Jill Halfpenny was brilliant and she absolutely blew me over! She is a true star and I think she will be around for some time! I am only 12 but she is my idol and I want to be just like when I'm older and at school everyone knows I'm obsessed with Chicago... I pray for these dreams every night so one day people will be commenting on my performance in Chicago just like Jill Halfpenny! I am trying to go to stage school next year so fingers crossed. Well done again Jill you made everyone in England proud, thank you!
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An absolutely brilliant show. Thoroughly enjoyable, a great night out. The seats theatremonkey recommended in row AA were possibly the best in the house. We really felt like we were a part of the show, the cast would look directly at you. I would recommend the show to anybody. I would also like to congratulate the cast and orchestra for a superb performance. I was singing the songs for days after! 
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Thanks to your wonderful advice regarding seats at the Adelphi, we booked stalls seats AA 19, 20 and 21. This was the very front row and we had an amazing time. I would agree with a previous reviewer who said they felt part of the show, and that is certainly the case. You feel as if the cast are playing just to you, as you obviously can't see the rest of the audience, who are all behind you! 

Brooke Shields was great as Roxie, what she lacked in the singing department (and she was still very good) she more than made up with her acting, which was humourous and moving in equal measure. The old favourites didn't disappoint, but the set is a little less than adventurous. 

The front row seats give you easy access to the bar at the front of the theatre on the left, which was little used at the interval, and much more civilised than getting crushed in the main bars. All round, it was a great seat and a very entertaining show. 
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I bought two tickets in row AA (16 and 17) for my dad for Father's Day and it was definitely money well spent! We saw it whilst Brooke Shields was still Roxie, and I have to say, for such a big name, she wasn't actually that terrific, the rest of the cast were absolutely AMAZING though! 

Our seats were prime viewing spots as during some of the songs ("All That Jazz" and "Razzle Dazzle" in particular) the cast actually look right at you! It was so cool, even though it was a bit unnerving!!! You really do get spoiled by the cast as they look at you an awful lot and you actually feel part of the performance. Unfortunately for us, during the interval, a very large and noisy group of people came and took the empty seats around us and did not shut up throughout the rest of the performance. The other downside was that the cast no longer looked at us, but rather at the group, which after a brilliant start makes you feel really disappointed. Tip: tell an usher that they've 'taken over' and they should be removed. 

The only other downside for myself, was that at 5'5, I couldn't see the floor. It isn't really essential, but I didn't know that Fred Casely was still "dead" on the floor until somebody picked him up! My dad, at 6' had no problems at all, but if you don't mind not seeing up to their calves, then these really are the seats to take! We didn't get any roses like other people had spoken of who had these seats, but we came home showered in the "razzle dazzle" which flew down from the curtains (again, the group were a nuisance here as well, as the one sat next to me decided to take a piece of razzle dazzle; a big shiny circle; off of my knee and put it in her purse!!!)

To sum up - DEFINITELY RECOMMEND AA16-17 AND WOULDN'T TAKE ANYTHING LESS!! Thanks theatremonkey!

Cassie Chapman-Moore and Ken Moore, Portsmouth
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Hi, my fiancé and I travelled from Walsall to London just to watch Chicago on 22nd July 2005. Nothing else to say but FANTASTIC!! Kathryn Dunn took the part of Roxie and the whole cast was brill from start to finish, we were entertained throughout the entire show.

It doesn't matter that the stage was not 'packed' with scenery because it didn't need it! If you only see one show this year then go and see Chicago. I intend to see it if it goes on tour round the country!!

We were in row BB (stalls) and the view was brilliant, I am only 5 foot but had no trouble at all seeing everyone on the stage, whether they were standing, sitting or lying down! We were also lucky enough to catch one of the roses thrown out at the end by Velma - it takes pride of place with my program in my bedroom.

GO SEE THIS SHOW - I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!
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I have seen many musicals and currently been to several a few times in London but this one in my opinion was a dead loss. I have never been so bored, never looked at my watch so much for the finish...and Brooks Shields was in it. I found the lack of scenery a complete washout, the continual night club acts enough to drive me to drink. I do know lots of people have enjoyed it but for me it was No No NO

Ms Christina Brooks
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Brilliant show - Dress Circle Seats Row F 18 and19 were perfect. Good view, enough leg room and not too hot in theatre during show.
Highly recommend but leave early for theatre and remember London traffic...
Ben Grower
Bournemouth
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Last Thursday (20th October 2005) I went to see Lynda Carter in Chicago.

This was the 4th time I've seen it over the years but this time around it seemed to have lost some of it's sparkle. I'm not sure why, but the leading ladies didn't quite seem to hit the heights of previous casts.

Nevertheless, it was great to see Wonder Woman!
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Thoroughly enjoyed the show. Darius Danesh made a wonderful Billy Flynn - he was very polished and his voice sends shivers down the spine. He had the moves down to a "t". The actress who played Velma was great, as was Moma Morton. Sally Ann Triplett as Roxie was ok, but nothing to write home about. The one actress who I thought wasn't up to scratch was the girl that played the Hungarian. If she hadn't been hung first time round, I would have put in an appeal! One of the six murderesses (blonde, small) was also too quiet - you didn't really hear her story.

Yes, there's not much set, but in my opinion it didn't need it. I was totally absorbed by the action on the stage, which after all is what most people go to see!

Seats 29 and 30 in Row H (stalls) were perfect - didn't have to look up or down, close enough to see everything. A little off to the side, but not a restricted view.

Great songs, great atmosphere, friendly theatre and easy to get to. I thoroughly recommend it.

Nicki
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A MUST-SEE SHOW - GO ON, YOU DESERVE IT!!!

We went to see the matinee of 'Chicago' this afternoon (31st December 2005) and thought it was a really fantastic way of spending our collective Xmas present money!!!

Myself, hubby and two boys (12 and 14) thought that the whole show was great. We sat in the Dress Circle G 23 to 26 and the view was fine. As we are all on the short side the lack of leg-room didn't bother us, but I could see others in our row squirming to get comfortable at times.

Everybody on the stage was excellent, and that included the band! It was delightful to see the musicians having so much fun (don't rush out afterwards, wait for the 'going home music'). Each character in the show was well portrayed & all the performers worked so hard and really looked as if they enjoyed themselves.

We can't wait to go again and see the show from downstairs to get a different perspective on the action!

Sharon
East Sussex
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I was taken to see "Chicago" on the 26th November 2005 (afternoon performance) and what a treat it was.
A spectacular show of dark comedy and Jazz, with the set at a minimum and the Large Jazz band taking centre-stage.

Roxy (Sally Anne Triplett) and Velma were very good, Velma especially belting out her songs with gusto, while Roxy put me in mind of Judy Garland with a better voice! Especially in hat and black jacket.
Amos was played very well by Victor Mcquire. Darius Danesh was the total surprise of the show, he WAS Billy Flynn all the way through, and his vocals and acting were fantastic. The highlight for me was "We Both Went For The Gun" but "Razzle Dazzle" and "All I Care About Is Love" came very close! I would never believed that this was his first big acting role.

All in all a highly entertaining show on all levels and one with a valid point to be made about society
Denise.
Buckinghamshire.
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I really love this production seen four times in London and once in New York. In January 2006, Darius Danesh (now left the cast) was the best Billy Flynn ever. He’s got it all - good looks; great vocals and a natural on stage! I loved the whole performance and the leading ladies were fantastic too. It’s great to sit in the front rows of the stalls – you really feel part of the show and want to get up there!!

Terrific and Well Done Darius!!!

Angela
Manchester
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Went to see this show in September 2005 and on Theatremonkey’s recommendation sat in the very front row. Have never had an experience like it – felt like we were on the stage with the cast. It’s worth doing for the sheer fun of it but don’t be surprised if the songs are directed at you. Talk about seeing the whites of their eyes! Very good night out.

Signed "Lizzie loves the theatre"
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Went to see Chicago on 11th March 2006. Great seats in Row AA of the stalls, seats 14,15 and 16, nearly central, could not ask for better seats!

The show was amazing, it really does put other shows to shame! Linzi Hateley who plays Roxie was brilliant, as were all the cast

Some people think that the orchestra were fun, and really enjoying it, but they just looked like they were doing what they were told in my opinion, bit false, but hey, we don't go to look at them, just to listen!

We were even lucky enough to catch a rose from Thelma and Roxie at the end, as we were so near the front! And yes, you do feel like they are singing just to you at times, as they are not shy in holding a stare, which can be intimidating, but we loved it!

My 12 year old daughter even went up to the stage at the end to pick up the sparkly bits, to go with her rose!

A fab night, can't wait to go again, well worth every penny, you won't come away disappointed!

Karen Elliott,
Herts
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Am I the only person who did not enjoy this show? -in all the musicals I have seen this bored me the most and was glad when it ended although there were one or two good spots all in all not for me!!

Ms Christina Brooks N6
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Went to see "Chicago" at the Cambridge Theatre last night, and definitely have to disagree with the negative comments on your site! The musical numbers were very energetic and enthusiastic. I quite liked the stripped down set, as it gave the impression of being in a sleazy nightclub. We were in row A seats 5 and 6 and had a great view, only missing the teeniest portion of the bottom of the stage.

The main niggle I had with the play was the casting of Bonnie Langford. She's a great performer but just seems far too old for the role. It's a bit like watching your drunken auntie trying to act sexy! Also I think the sound went during one of the songs, as even in the second row I could hardly make out the lyrics. But that could be the fault of the performer who played Billy Flynn, who looked a little jaded at times.

The funniest part of the evening was on leaving the theatre, we were pretty much the last people to leave and overheard one of the bored looking ushers singing "All that crap" to himself!

Natalie
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This musical absolutely amazed me. I saw it last night, 26th July 2006, with Jennifer Ellison as Roxie, Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly and Ian Kelsey as Billy Flynn. I was not disappointed in the slightest, except from the fact "X Factor's" (a British "Pop Idol" TV show - editor) Brenda was not in it on that particular night.
The humour throughout the show was great - Ian Kelsey certainly provided great entertainment. Him and Jennifer were definitely the best two in the show, although the dancers were extremely good. The songs were electric also! I'm still smiling about it, want to see it again tonight!
I was slightly worried about where we were sitting as it was row O seats 7 and 8, but they were both very good seats, enabling us to have a clear view of everything going on on stage. I was pleased with the size of the theatre - I was convinced it would be too big to see from everywhere, but I could confidently say that you could see from anywhere, certainly in the stalls. I cant wait to see the show again!

Danielle Knights,
Norwich
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I went with a group of ten friends to see this show last night (1st August 2006), and enjoyed it thoroughly. Both Amra Faye Wright and Jennifer Ellison performed excellently, and we also had an understudy for Mama Morton - a girl from the ensemble - but I thought she was really good anyway. The rest of the cast and ensemble were great too, so I didn't really understand why there was no standing ovation.

We sat in the central block of the upper circle, row A. I'd seen that this was coloured red according to theatremonkey but was actually quite pleased. There is a safety bar which runs across the front of your view, but sitting up straight and leaning slightly forward, you pretty much eliminate it's effects. I was surprised how far forward I felt, and how clearly I could see all the cast and their facial expressions, the upper circle didn't seem as high as it has done elsewhere either. I was a little worried about leaning, because I wasn't sure how it would affect the view for those behind us, but I guess as long as your aren't hanging right over it's probably okay...

I would definitely recommend this show to anybody.
Chris
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'Chicago' at the Cambridge was a distinct disappointment last night (Monday 2 October 2006). I've seen the show a number of times, from several viewings at the Cambridge of the original production in 1977 via a student version at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss Cottage to at least five or six visits to the Adelphi. I thought the show, despite its minimalist approach, looked quite cramped on the smallish stage of the Cambridge, especially as all the male dancers seemed to be particularly chunky. No problem with that, other than they needed a bit more space to flex the highly developed muscles in every part of their bodies!

I thought Ian Kelsey was the worst Billy Flynn I have ever seen. He was extremely unsure vocally, generally lacked charisma and even stage technique, and was left for dead by previous suave performers of the role like Marti Pellow and even Darius Danesh! The climactic moments of his three numbers ('All I Care About is Love', 'We Both Reached for the Gun' and 'Razzle Dazzle') were simplified vocally and movement-wise to the extent that, for me at least, they all fell flat! The two women, Ashlee Simpson and Amra-Faye Wright, both worked hard but lacked the vocal weight to make their numbers work properly. Being able to dance is not enough, and Amra-Faye's ridiculously fast and over-danced 'When Velma Takes the Stand' was just ludicrous. I know this isn't her fault, but it's a plot song and should be performed as such, not as a mad display of speeded up eccentric dancing. In fact, the production seems to be paying less and less attention to what's left of the script and concentrating on who can dance the fastest! At least half of the girls in the Cell Block Tango were inadequate when presenting their lyrics, and even the Hungarian lady seemed ineffectual, and all she has to say is 'Not Geeeelty!' Also, the final 'Hot Honey Rag' seemed less effective than I have seen it with other casts. Both ladies appeared a bit tired, or maybe it was the choreography that was tired -- I'm not sure which -- but it wasn't the joyous American vaudeville-cum-burlesque end to the show that it seemed to be at the Adelphi.

The good news is that the supporting players were good. I was particularly impressed with Brenda Edwards as Mama Morton, who, despite playing her first ever stage role, brought some very stylish vocalising to 'When You're Good to Mama' and was fine in 'Class'. Julian Sims was OK as Amos and CC Mullaney was an excellent Mary Sunshine. Another complaint I have always had about the current version of the show, although at some performances it hasn't bothered me too much, is that 'Razzle Dazzle' should be the musical heart of the whole piece, and it should be a wonderful production number full of terpsichorean and theatrical magic. But here, everything else that has gone before has been so over-choreographed and over-performed that 'Razzle Dazzle' is done as a throw-away and is now the framework for Roxie's trial, which is also turned into a silly bit of slapstick! No, the truth is that the current production is seriously flawed and needs stronger stars then Mr Kelsey and the Misses Simpson and Wright to conceal its faults. I'm sure the large number of people waiting at the stage door afterwards would disagree with me, but the current cast is sadly not top drawer and their shortcomings highlight what's wrong with the production!"

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I have no idea how people could have possibly thought of anything negative to say about Chicago and it's stars.

I have now seen the show 10 times in total (5 times when Bonnie Langford was starring) and every single time I have loved it and wanted to see it yet again! Bonnie was absolutely perfect for the show, I can't understand why someone would think it was like watching "your elderly aunt trying to sing and dance", she is a total legend and can turn her hand to any kind of role. I also think Amra-Faye Wright is amazing, she makes the dancing and sinking seem effortless. I will certainly think twice about seeing it again now that she has left the show. I believe that the ensemble cast were also very versatile and talented, each time we have seen the show they have changed to playing different parts which surely shows their professionalism. I can not speak highly enough about the show, you must see it soon!!

Emma
(Hampshire)
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What a total disappointment!

Being a lovely girlfriend... I thought I would surprise my partner for Christmas and bought her tickets for 'Chicago'...One of the strongest performances and most seductively powerful stage creations, Also the BIG bonus of Brenda Edwards playing Mama Morton kind of made it LAW to go.

So finally 12th January 2007, we set off all excited to see our Brenda do her thing, we loved her to bits on 'X Factor' 'n couldn't wait to see her finally make the BIG TIME!.

Slightly shocked at the miniature Ladies room and the rather tatty looking theatre itself we excitedly took our seats and looked around the theatre taking it in. No sign of the Band...Hmmm Oddness.
All became crystal clear when the curtain went back....The stage was small to say the least, but taking up two thirds of it was this whacking great big tiered stage for the band.

Not to be put off we settled in with our drink 'n sweeties 'n thought it can't be as bad as this really, can it?!, Oh how wrong we were! The stage was no more than 10ft deep for the cast to move about so made everything very tight and unnatural.

The main problem with the stage being pre-occupied by the band was that left no space at all for scene change, so they didn't do ANY!, or costume changes for that matter!, which was very confusing for me as I had not seen 'Chicago' before so had very little idea what was happening and where it was supposed to be happening... luckily my partner has seen the movie so could be my guide so I had a clue what was going on, otherwise I would have been totally lost.

BUT the biggest shock was yet to come, after all this waiting and to be honest disappointment in the state of the theatre (that we had thought, being in London and hosting a major leading headliner, would have been of a decent standard)... To cap it all!....Brenda was actually Ginger!, white and had a voice like a church mouse!!!!!!.....my Nan can sing stronger than this woman and she has passed to the other side!.

NO banner or notice or even a little whisper in our ear that OUR STAR of the show was not going to be performing, when Mama Morton came out the whole place went silent and all you could see was heads turning to each other in disbelief and you should have heard it in half time!, the conversations around us were of total shock and disbelief. No prior notification in any way that Brenda would not be appearing tonight. I did actually ask an attendant who said she had phoned in sick, and of course this is not her fault (although most inconsiderate on the night we came to see you Brenda, ya bad girl) But they could have prepared us for the disappointment before we got all worked up...It definitely affected how we felt and actually considered leaving at half time as we were so fed up with the whole thing.

But we did stay and stick it out, well we shouldn't have bothered to be honest, the leading ladies were both totally weak and not at all what one would think when you say CHICAGO, Sexy, etc etc etc...not in the slightest!
We would still love to see 'Chicago' but now wonder where to go to see it and if it's going to be worth bothering if they can't be bothered to make an effort for us, No sets no costumes nothing!...My school plays were more convincing than that lot.

Ho Hum....lesson learned...stick with Southampton's Mayflower Theatre, we saw 'White Christmas' there and it was FAB!!!, amazing sets convincing actors in fact all three of us ended up sobbing at the end, and it has to be said it is a totally stunning theatre.

New Theatre goer in dismay,
Surrey, England.
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(February 9, 2007). Chicago from stalls seat AA18 - front row, middle seat, half price thanks to GILT - was pure luxury: Due to the distance between the first row and the stage, you can actually lie back and stretch your legs and take in the whole show as if you were sitting in your sofa at home.

The show remains as excellent as ever - with or without the occasional big stars. Speaking of which: Tony Hadley is probably one of the stiffer Billy Flynns the show has seen, but he still sings like a bird - not one false note to be heard.
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Musicals are not our favourite form of theatre, but given a quiet Saturday night (10th March 2007) with nothing booked in advance, and finding ourselves in the vicinity of the Cambridge, we couldn't resist popping in to "check for returns." Always worth while, if you are feeling undecided, and on this occasion we picked up Stalls seats H16 and H17 - top price tickets but good value, as we had an excellent view of entire stage. The seats provided good leg room (we are both tall) and have the added advantage of being aisle seats and pretty much centre stage.

There is very little spoken dialogue, but there are some good voices, Tony Hadley (ex-Spandau Ballet) can still croon a good tune (currently playing Billy Flynn). The two actors playing Roxie & Velma certainly earn their money almost singing and dancing non-stop. The set is minimal with no changes & costumes are in monochrome but pretty (I enjoyed the dance with the large ostrich fans).

The dancing is of the sort of standard you'd expect in the West End and to be admired given the small area of stage in which the actors were performing. Given the long run, Chicago must be doing lots of things right and we left feeling "OK" but not much else. Husband commented that the scantily clad women were "artistic," and from a female perspective the male dancers had plenty to be admired! I suspect this could be a good show for a Hen Party?

We did, however, find ourselves becoming increasingly worried that Tony Hadley would collapse with heart failure. He is a large gentleman and although it must be difficult to dance, when you are not a trained dancer (we've tried ballroom, its not as easy as it looks!!), his movements were a little wooden and he appeared to be suffering badly from the heat of the stage lights.

Always better than "staying in" but not worthy of The Times comment "The Most Exciting Musical Of Its Generation."

Ali P
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This is my second viewing of Chicago, but my first time watching it at the Cambridge Theatre during this April 2007 visit. It's my wife's first time seeing Chicago so I warn her not to allow the black stage to skew her perceptions of the musical -- "Just listen to the music and concentrate upon the dancing" I tell her. And this is good advice for anyone going to see Chicago because it really is all about music and dance supplemented by a burlesque script.

The orchestra is in top form on this evening and one could conceivably focus wholly upon the ragtime music and jazzy riffs of the very skilled musicians. But Chicago is also about some fantastic dance. The black stage and stark lighting actually help you to draw your focus upon the very fine and talented dance troupe and soak up the haughty, leggy look of prohibition Chicago. I enjoy my second viewing as the leads are at the top of their game this night and an electric feeling flows between audience and cast. And yes, my wife also has a great time marvelling at those precise dance steps. It's no surprise to me that given this cast, script, and music that Chicago continues to draw strong West End audiences. It's the sort of musical that one will want to revisit on occasion just for the listening pleasure as well as the dance.

Our seats, in Dress Circle C18/19, were good seats, just as TM describes them. Finding the theatre is a tricky proposition for the first time visitor. We ourselves take an afternoon walk to scout out things so as to avoid the anxiety of rushing to find the place since we're always running behind schedule. Turns out to be a good move for as usual, we run late and have to dash down from Tottenham and trot to the theatre, taking our seats two minutes before curtain. Preparation paid off.

Barry Liimakka
Cinnaminson
USA
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After reading good reviews about 'Chicago,' we decided we would take advantage of half price tickets from the booth in Leicester Square. The seats in the rear stalls were great and provided a good view of the stage.

Not as sexy as we thought it would be but on the whole a brilliant show with wonderful dashes of comedy. Duncan James complemented it with his brilliant voice.

Our rating: 5 out of 5. Fabulous!!!

Miles T
Age 14
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My boyfriend and I saw the show on 30th August 2007. We were in seats AA22 and AA23. It was absolutely FANTASTIC. Duncan James as Billy Flynn is amazing but the rest of the cast are equally brilliant. Seeing it right on the front row was also very special, you could virtually reach out and touch the cast (we didn't!) and it was fascinating to have such a close-up view. The seats were comfortable with lots of leg room. My boyfriend is not a fan of the theatre at all but he hasn't stopped talking about it yet. If you can get to see this show, go and see it, it's a real treat.

Nicky Lambert
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My computer died on Sunday night and so in the rain on Monday I went out and bought a new one... I was therefore in something of a stressful state on Monday evening (26th November 2007) when it was time to set off for the Cambridge to have yet another look at ‘Chicago’ in this its 10th anniversary season. On my last visit I was disappointed to see that the staging is quite cramped on the stage of the Cambridge, which is much smaller than the Adelphi stage, and I was not happy with some of the casting.

But on Monday night in just a few minutes the show pulled me out of my miserable state and I had a wonderful time throughout the whole performance. Firstly, from my seat in the second row of the Dress Circle, the amplification was exactly right, giving a perfect balance between the voices and the orchestra and enabling every word to be heard clearly and fully understood, which was not the case on my previous viewing. So the merry murderesses in the 'Cell Block Tango' all registered exactly as they should, and the number went down a treat. The casting of the principals was as evenly balanced as I have ever seen it, with neither any inappropriate TV personalities or overbearing big stars. Frances Ruffelle and Amra-Faye Wright have both played their parts many times, but they were on cracking form, with a good amount of light and shade in their performances, and Frances Ruffelle also manages to inject quite a lot of dramatic depth into what is hardly a role demanding all that much acting! Sue Kelvin (Mama Morton), Terence Maynard (Billy Flynn) and Paul Rider (Amos) made the most of their big moments and yet gave good ensemble performances. I noticed a bit of tweaking with the dance routines and vocal arrangements for the ensemble, but they all seemed to work well and are probably tailored better to the current performers. So I was extremely glad I went, and very happy to see that the show is currently in such good shape.

Return visit 6th February 2008: I was desolated when I got to the Cambridge Theatre tonight, only to discover that Duncan James was off, because he was the principal reason that I booked to see it again this week. The good news is that the cover, Paul Iveson, was excellent and performed well, but I did want to see Mr James! 

The Upper Circle was closed, but the Stalls and Dress Circle looked almost full and the audience was lively and appreciative. I was seeing Bonnie Langford for the first time and she was fine, although lacking the emotional depth that Frances Ruffelle brought to the role. Amra Faye-Wright was great (she must have been indisposed when I complained about her being not very good a year or so ago) and Brenda Edwards singing ‘When You’re Good to Mama’ is worth the price of admission on its own. She sure is some classy dame! 

Overall the show seemed in good shape, although I was particularly conscious tonight of the way the staging that worked so well at the Adelphi looks cramped on the smaller stage of the Cambridge. It was fun sitting in the second row of the Stalls (but the front row was full so I didn’t get a rose at the end), and the amplification and general sound balance was as good there as it sounded from the back of the dress circle on my last visit, so it seems as if the sound guys have really got the Cambridge Theatre nailed. If only some of the other West End musicals would follow suit!
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Just my thoughts on Chicago on Monday night (11th February 2008) at the Cambridge.

We got seats on row O of the stalls from TKTS (seats 24 to 29.) The view was great, the theatre is small enough to see everything really clearly, although the shallow rake meant that a couple of my group had a few problems with big people in front of them. however, I feel they were maybe unlucky, as with a quick swap, they could see perfectly. However, I found the legroom (or lack of it) pretty painful. Once my legs were wedged in, they weren't going anywhere! All the others (who are substantially shorter than me) were very comfortable.

As for the show, I had been several times early in the run when it was at the Adelphi and loved it, so this was the first time I had been for a few years. To be honest, it seemed a bit flat to me by comparison, a little more restrained than I remember, although still very enjoyable. Amra Faye Wright was excellent as Velma, as was Brenda Edwards as Mama. I will confess to a dislike of Bonnie Langford, but even she won me over by playing the part well. So while still a great night out, I couldn't help thinking that I had seen it in slightly better shape. Maybe it was just me this time?

Overall, still worth seeing, and a bargain for half price.

Paul West.
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Date: Saturday 7th June 2008
Staring role: Suzanne Shaw

With the start of six weeks run for Suzanne in 'Chicago,' I intended to see this show for my very first time. After seeing many musicals in London, I had not bothered with this one until now; after seeing the film (and not thinking very much of it) I thought why pay upwards of £50 to see it?

But when I heard that Suzanne Shaw was in it for six weeks, and after watching her become the 'Ice Queen,' I thought I will give it a go and try for a ticket via the half price booth.

So Saturday of her first week - the matinee at 3pm - I was seated ready to see how this show live compared with the film.

Seat: Stalls H23. View on seat: good seat, view good, but if some tall Monkey was in front of me maybe the view would not had been so good, luckily for me it was a short female.

I enjoyed the show and thought that Suzanne performed very well. After just two weeks to get the part before opening on Monday 2nd June, and now just her sixth show, she looked like she has been in it for weeks and has taken to 'Chicago' like she took to ice.

The show for me is a little slow, and I felt took a while to get me hooked, but the storyline is simple but I think we all know the story of poor (or not so poor) Roxy Hart.

Worth seeing if you want to see a musical and have either seen all the others or want to see the likes of Suzanne Shaw or any new lovely female who follows her in these skimpy tops and tights!

Five weeks of Suzanne to go. Who’s next?

Would I see it again? Well, if Madonna or anyone else who I liked was in it yes, if not then no. It's more of a 'one off' show for me, unlike some shows I could mention (“Our House which is touring this year, and I already have booked to see it four times in the South of England LOL”).

Alun of Basildon
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Theatre: The Cambridge theatre is quite simple absolutely nothing special , the rake is the shallowest of all west end theatres and the fact that the orchestra was up on stage really brought my expectations down.

Musical: The choreography is not one to be impressed about and there is not an specific object that will make you remember the musical by e.g. 'The Phantom Of The Opera: the chandelier..'. but in the other hand the musical is very funny and the songs are indeed shoe-tapping including "Razzle Dazzle," "Mr. Cellophane," and my favourite, "The Cell Block Tango." I would definitely go to see it again but only on discount and if there was someone famous.

Seats: I was seated on the stalls row K seats 12 and 13. These seats were great, if only the rake wasn't so shallow. The legroom was not great, and I would definitely pay full price tickets only if the seats were located in the stalls.

Overall: A totally great experience, it's a definite 'must-see' and I'm sure it will 'razzle dazzle' you.

3 1/2 out of 5
 
Cristopher H.
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Saw the show on 16th September 2008, after getting £52.50 stalls seats for just £17.50 via Theatremonkey Special Offers page (thanks Theatremonkey). Sat in row G, seat 6. I'm 6ft and found the leg room to be good, better than the train I'd travelled down on in fact. The view was great, even at full price (but obviously incredible, given what I'd actually paid for it).

Really enjoyed the show. The whole cast were brilliant. The choreography was fantastic (never thought I'd ever say something like that). It had humour, drama, great songs, costumes, sexiness by the bucket load (not a phrase you hear every day) and although the set was sparse, it worked perfectly.

I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who wants a good nights entertainment. Not too taxing. Just great fun.

Rattly Noise
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We left North Devon before 7am to get to London on 29th November 2008. Travelling such a distance we decided to do two shows in one day. We’d originally had tickets for “Never Forget” and after that was cancelled it was a mad dash to find reasonable priced tickets for another show – 'Chicago' was the winner.

I must confess I’ve never seen the film of 'Chicago' and only knew vaguely it was about a prison. My friends being much better informed tried to fill me in on the story before we got there. First disappointment was the seats – we’d booked with last minute and been promised the best available. This turned out to be row A of the upper circle. As the monkey notes there is a safety bar which does rather obscure the stage, however, sitting forward gave a good view (although by the end of the show a bad back!).

I say first disappointment, perhaps I should have said only disappointment – the show was really good. Aoife Mulholland played Roxie. Of course we knew her from the Maria programme and it was a bit odd to see her in something definitely un-Nun like. Her voice was excellent as were her acting skills. All the cast gave really good performances, songs were catchy (I’m still singing Mr Cellophane) and sound quality was good. The show finished and we had to dash across London to the Palladium for the 'Sound of Music' hoping fervently it would be as good as 'Chicago'…

Jackie,
Barnstaple
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Saw the show December 12th 2008. What a great evening's entertainment, everything about the production was faultless; and judging by the audience reaction we were not on our own in this view. Aoife Mulholland was great, but for us the star must be Anna-Jane Casey who literally sang and danced her way through the show with true star quality.

The whole cast worked so hard and appeared to be really enjoying every minute themselves. We sat in the Dress Circle - G27-28 and although we are not tall we had a great view and the sound perfect.
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'Chicago' has been a musical I have wanted to see for many, many years. However, the producers propensity to cast TV presenters, tennis players and all round non performers in the main roles has caused me, out of principal, albeit a very minor one, to steer clear.

However, my friend and I hit London over the 2009 Easter weekend and ticket choices were limited. To our surprise they seemed to have cast all actual performers in Chicago so we decided to take the plunge. We were sat in seats K35 and 36 of the Upper Circle, which we got for a discounted £19. I would say for this price they are very good. Whilst being very far from the stage, you can see everything, except for although one tiny safety bar which occasionally comes into view.

As for the show, I have to admit it was just brilliant. As a musical itself, it is very well written. There is no dialogue or songs which aren’t needed, the story rattles on at pace and the musical numbers are uniformly catchy. It is also nice to see a musical staged in this manner, with no real costume and a representative set. There is a clear idea behind everything on stage.

The performances are uniformly excellent and very tight. The dancing is out of this world. I am not usually a person who finds dance particularly impressive, but the numbers in 'Chicago,' especially “All That Jazz” and “Razzle Dazzle” really need to be seen. I have also never seen a predominantly dancing cast sing this well. The cast all look like they are having a lot of fun (or at least are pretending really well) which is incredibly infectious. The Velma and Roxie (who was understudied, but I couldn’t tell as she was brilliant) are both genuine “triple threats”. I have never seen two leading ladies dance, sing and act so well. They could both high kick so high they actually hit themselves in the face. Praise is also needed for the tech side of things. I could hear everything, a rare occurrence in the West End!

All in all it was a hugely entertaining evening. I have no real criticisms, and indeed would have to praise the cast and production team for making a long running, well known musical still feel fresh. I can see this running for MANY years to come, but go see it before they cast someone off 'EastEnders' in a lead role.

Hannah
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I went to see 'Chicago' on 10th April 2009 for the 5pm matinee. I hadn't seen it before so was very excited. I was quite angry and upset before, as my friend hadn't turned up to the time we agreed (turned out she had made other plans and couldn't be bothered to tell me). I was almost late waiting for her, as I had to catch a Rail Replacement Bus. Fortunately a friend who lives in London could come last minute. So I got to the theatre with excitement for the show and disappoint my friend had let me down. The staff were very nice though. They delayed the show for about 5 minutes just so my friend could get there on time. That cheered me up, as did my friend and then THE SHOW...

...It was so wonderful! I actually love it. I so want to go again. It was much better than the film, personally, and I love how the cast are always at the sides during the show. A simple set people say, but for an amazing show. I loved every bit of singing, dancing and acting. I think the set was fine, anything too fancy and realistic would be hard to do!

I especially love the ladders at the side. What fun! I was high kicking is my seat and swaying along (the theatre was empty as it was Good Friday so there was no one in front if anyone is worried about me knocking out fellow audience members).

I must say what a wonderful cast we had. Roxxie was being understudied, but her understudy was so good and so much like the film woman (her name escapes my mind). It was wonderful to hear her powerful voice, though for me the actress who plays Velma is the best performer on stage. She was full of class and style, a pleasure to watch. And it so nice to see Gina Murray as Mama. You can see talent runs in the Murray family! I was blow away. And Billy Flynn played by Ian was wonderful and charming. I can't get over how much I enjoyed the show.

We sat in the Grand Circle Row J seats 9 and 10. (We were meant to be in Row K seats 15 and 16 but as it was Good Friday and hardly anyone was there, they told us to sit where ever). We decided that these two seats were the best on this side of the circle. They are fairly cheap and they best avoid the metal bar that separates the front and back of the circle. You can see everything and the seats are comfortable, though legroom could be better (though is acceptable). The seats we were meant to be in were far worse because of a bar across which is why they are worth less.

Stage door was good, mainly the male cast who come out though. But it was a lot of fun!

Get tickets now or you'll have it comin'.

Pip
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I went to see 'Chicago' at the Cambridge Theatre for the first time on Friday 24th April 2009 at the matinee (17.00) performance. I usually avoid matinee performances as I just don't think they have the same atmosphere as evening performances, but I managed to get great tickets for less than half price in the Stalls from the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, so couldn't resist.

I was not disappointed - despite being a matinee and despite the theatre being barely half full (a sad sight but perhaps a reflection on the glorious sunshine outside as well as the credit crunch effect), the cast were firing on all cylinders and the performance was astonishingly good.

I have never seen 'Chicago' in the theatre (only the movie and I wasn't a huge fan as I'm not keen on Renee Zellweger); and it is a long time since I have seen such an energetic, amusing and well performed show. The highlight of my theatre going is a trip to see 'Cabaret' in New York with Molly Ringwald as Sally Bowles back in 2002, but this performance of 'Chicago' comes a close second - and that is saying something!

Rachel McDowall as Velma Kelly was amazing! Stunningly beautiful with not a note or foot put wrong. Her energy levels seemed boundless! Ian Kelsey as Billy Flynn was a revelation - I remember him as Dave Glover in Emmerdale and never imagined he would put in such a good turn. The accent wobbled slightly at points, but that was more than forgivable given the excellent performance he gave overall. Aoife Mulholland as Roxie Hart was also fantastic - I understand she is another of the losing Marias from BBC1's 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?' and, although I was not a regular viewer of that programme, the one thing I remembered about her was that her Irish accent was very noticeable whatever she was singing. She has certainly got over this issue and her performance was great. David Ganly also put in a really touching performance as Amos Hart and got one of the biggest cheers of the night.

In fact, the entire cast (including the band - fabulous) were excellent - I know the show is relatively short at 2hours 15minutes including a 15minute interval, but I can't believe they keep up those levels of energy for that time, then go on and give another performance at 20.30!! They all really gave the impression they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

As for seating, I was in Stalls E8, which was a fantastic seat - you could really see every expression on the actors' faces. It took a while to get used to at first, as there is so much going on on stage that at times I struggled to know where to focus my attention, but would definitely sit there again if the tickets were available at the same price. I wouldn't mind trying out something in the Dress Circle too though, to get a more panoramic look at the stage - I'd definitely go again.

Nicky
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Wow!!!! My husband and I saw 'Chicago' for the first time yesterday (16th December 2009) and it was Fantastic!!!! We were so lucky to see Ruthie Henshall as Roxie....she was fabulous! So energetic, enthusiastic, wonderful voice and bags of personality!!! A true Pro!

The rest of the cast were also of a high standard especially the actress who played Velma...again superb singing and dancing, putting in 100%.

Such a feel good show, would definitely recommend to my friends and family particularly with the current cast. We also got a two for one deal for the tickets although I would happily pay full price.
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My husband and I went to see 'Chicago' on the 15th January 2010, and had a fantastic time. We had seats 10 and 11 in row C of the Dress Circle which we got on a deal, but would have been good value at full price. Fabulous seats with a great view of the whole stage and all the action. The cast were brilliant and so energetic through the whole performance. We will be going again!

The only thing I would say is that the theatre itself was quite warm. This could be because the heating was on as the weather was very cold - but I’d make sure that you go in a t-shirt or light top in the summer.
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May 2010. Having not checked my booking carefully we arrived too early as the performance starts at 8pm. (Aside: Installing ourselves in the pub opposite a Harrison Ford lookalike was discussing a film script with a producer).

This production is another of those cheapo shows that does not have any scenery and excluding the bandstand (on the stage NOT in the pit) there was a ladder each side of the proscenium plus cane chairs for performers located where the wings meet the stage in full view of the audience. That is all there is !!!

Our seats stalls G17, 18 and 19 gave an excellent view and better legroom than most theatres BUT the show did not give value for money compared to say "Oliver" where there are numerous full stage scene and costume changes plus a full Orchestra totalling 100 performers in all for a similar ticket cost to this empty presentation.

There are a few raunchy episodes but I am glad to say I did not hear any four letter words. (There were quite a few children in the audience).

I don't care for modern jazz but being set in the 20's the trad jazz set my toes a tapping and the band met all expectations. Lead singers gave their best.

I have never seen the film or the show before and now I have I would not spend money on it again.


David,
Redcar
Cleveland.
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