Chicago | Venue Cymru

Set in the 1920s, the story of Chicago follows Roxie Hart, an unfaithful housewife who dreams of fame, who gets sentenced to jail time for murdering her lover. In jail, she meets Velma Kelly, a glamorous nightclub performer who is also on trial for murder. The pair both fight for the attention of manipulative lawyer Billy Flynn, using the media to manipulate the public and turn their trials into show business opportunities. Ultimately, Chicago is a tale of corruption, exploitation and manipulation.

Chicago is undoubtedly best known for its sexy and slick choreography from Ann Reinking, inspired by the incredibly iconic Bob Fosse, and this production and cast deliver on every level. From Kander and Ebb's iconic numbers including All That Jazz to We Both Reached for the Gun, the choreography bursts onto the stage, and with John Lee Beatty's set design being intrinsically simplistic, the choreography and performances speak for themselves.

A particular highlight of the show, however, comes from the incredible band being visible on the stage throughout the duration of the show. Led by the Musical Director (Neil Macdonald), the band are sublime and really capture the essence of 1920s jazz with each number performed perfectly matching the energy of the choreography.

Djalenga Scott gives a powerful performance as Velma, oozing confidence and charisma as a showgirl. Beneath all the glitz and glamour, there's an edge to Velma's character with a desperation to clear her name, which Scott perfectly executes. Janette Manrara as Roxie Hart gives a great performance at portraying all the emotions, whilst initially appearing over-confident and arrogant, as the layers are stripped away and when the spotlight on Roxie fades, Manrara gives a great performance in the number Nowadays. Both Scott and Manrara have great onstage chemistry as they battle with each other, both with great comedic effect.

However, with all the glitz and glamour of the show, it was surprising that the show's highlight comes in the form of the number Mister Cellophane, which is performed by Joshua Lloyd, portraying Roxie's husband. Where character development felt lacking for the most part, it's in his emotive performance that we see a real person who is being dragged through the motions of the cards dealt, and it's a character that the audience can really empathise with.

Although there's lots to enjoy in terms of the music and choreography, unfortunately the limited set design and dated book led to moments of lack of engagement and connection with the story. Whilst there are some great moments of satirical humour and some great show-stopping numbers, some songs felt a little flat and the lack of set design left little to the imagination.

However, Chicago still has plenty to offer with its slick and sophisticated production, and one can always appreciate an incredibly talented team of cast and creatives, even if the subject matter didn't always feel engaging.

Chicago runs at Venue Cymru until 03rd May 2025.

Tickets and More Information

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review