Post by ilovegrayshaw on Oct 25, 2009 6:56:12 GMT -5
Show: Chicago
Times Seen Before: Once
Date: Saturday 24th October 2009 (matinee)
Location: Cambridge Theatre, London
Seat: Row P Seat 10 (brilliant seat reduced to £38.50)
There Alone
I have to admit that, the first time I saw Chicago on stage, I was extremely disappointed because I didn’t really like the cabaret style of the show. When you are so used to the film it seems that you will get a plot and not just move straight from one song to the other. The show does include pieces of dialogue and does have a storyline but just not as prominent as the one in the film. I really enjoyed it this time, at the Cambridge Theatre in London, – mostly because I saw Linzi Hately and Pia Douwes during the last matinee of their 6 week return to the roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly.
Pia really shone on the stage and her version of ‘All That Jazz’ was simply sensational. She really gets the character of Velma and I have never seen anybody else so perfect for the role. Her funny faces were adorable and she just really attacked her songs. Her singing voice is flawless and she showed me why she is such a phenomenon in the European musical theatre world. I would definitely see her again. I thought her mocking of Roxie was amazing in ‘I Know A Girl’ as well and the rest of the audience seemed to enjoy her performance just as much as me. Her dancing was probably the best out of all the cast.
I had wanted to see Linzi in Mamma Mia but never got the chance. So I was excited when I heard she was going to be in Chicago. I love her Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins and her Narrator in Joseph always has me head banging when she sings out the colours. She is such a cute and amazing woman. I think she is probably one of m favourite performers – alongside Mazz Murray, Sarah Earnshaw and now Pia Douwes. Her take on the song ‘Roxie’ had me in stitches. She was so perfect at it. I thouroughly enjoyed the song from beginning to end. Her dancing didn’t match Pia’s but in some ways I found her slightly better. She just was extremely likeable. She put everything she had into the role. It was amazing to see. I could tell the girls were really putting in extra effort for their last day.
Ian Kelsey’s singing grew on me, as Billy Flynn, throughout the performance. His acting was average also but he delivered a sound performance and I didn’t have anything to complain about. He looked like he was loving every second and that is very infectious. I saw him at stage door before the show when I was walking to the theatre.
Di Botcher I had heard as the wardrobe in the OLC of Beauty and the Beast. Her singing was not as good as Queen Latifah’s from the film but she still really gave it her all. I loved her winks and interactions with the audience. Her acting was probably the best out of the cast. She sang well opposite Pia in the song ‘Class’ – which was one of the best of the matinee.
David Ganly was also really good as Amos. He was monotonous at times but still had the vocal strength and acting abilities needed to make this small role really come alive. I thought he did a decent job.
N. Kiley was a great Mary Sunshine and his high notes were amazing. He really sounded like a girl which is what the part needs. I was amazed. He could sing female soprano songs. I thought he could have been more audible at times but the part is extremely difficult to portray.
I enjoyed seeing Alexis Owen-Hobbs from the Never Forget OLC as Annie but she wasn’t the best murderer. That title goes to Vivien Carter as Liz who was so sweet and really loveable.
All in all this show proved that Chicago can be an extremely brilliant show with phenomenal casting for the two lead roles. It’s a shame Linzi and Pia left that evening because they really brought the material to life.
Times Seen Before: Once
Date: Saturday 24th October 2009 (matinee)
Location: Cambridge Theatre, London
Seat: Row P Seat 10 (brilliant seat reduced to £38.50)
There Alone
I have to admit that, the first time I saw Chicago on stage, I was extremely disappointed because I didn’t really like the cabaret style of the show. When you are so used to the film it seems that you will get a plot and not just move straight from one song to the other. The show does include pieces of dialogue and does have a storyline but just not as prominent as the one in the film. I really enjoyed it this time, at the Cambridge Theatre in London, – mostly because I saw Linzi Hately and Pia Douwes during the last matinee of their 6 week return to the roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly.
Pia really shone on the stage and her version of ‘All That Jazz’ was simply sensational. She really gets the character of Velma and I have never seen anybody else so perfect for the role. Her funny faces were adorable and she just really attacked her songs. Her singing voice is flawless and she showed me why she is such a phenomenon in the European musical theatre world. I would definitely see her again. I thought her mocking of Roxie was amazing in ‘I Know A Girl’ as well and the rest of the audience seemed to enjoy her performance just as much as me. Her dancing was probably the best out of all the cast.
I had wanted to see Linzi in Mamma Mia but never got the chance. So I was excited when I heard she was going to be in Chicago. I love her Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins and her Narrator in Joseph always has me head banging when she sings out the colours. She is such a cute and amazing woman. I think she is probably one of m favourite performers – alongside Mazz Murray, Sarah Earnshaw and now Pia Douwes. Her take on the song ‘Roxie’ had me in stitches. She was so perfect at it. I thouroughly enjoyed the song from beginning to end. Her dancing didn’t match Pia’s but in some ways I found her slightly better. She just was extremely likeable. She put everything she had into the role. It was amazing to see. I could tell the girls were really putting in extra effort for their last day.
Ian Kelsey’s singing grew on me, as Billy Flynn, throughout the performance. His acting was average also but he delivered a sound performance and I didn’t have anything to complain about. He looked like he was loving every second and that is very infectious. I saw him at stage door before the show when I was walking to the theatre.
Di Botcher I had heard as the wardrobe in the OLC of Beauty and the Beast. Her singing was not as good as Queen Latifah’s from the film but she still really gave it her all. I loved her winks and interactions with the audience. Her acting was probably the best out of the cast. She sang well opposite Pia in the song ‘Class’ – which was one of the best of the matinee.
David Ganly was also really good as Amos. He was monotonous at times but still had the vocal strength and acting abilities needed to make this small role really come alive. I thought he did a decent job.
N. Kiley was a great Mary Sunshine and his high notes were amazing. He really sounded like a girl which is what the part needs. I was amazed. He could sing female soprano songs. I thought he could have been more audible at times but the part is extremely difficult to portray.
I enjoyed seeing Alexis Owen-Hobbs from the Never Forget OLC as Annie but she wasn’t the best murderer. That title goes to Vivien Carter as Liz who was so sweet and really loveable.
All in all this show proved that Chicago can be an extremely brilliant show with phenomenal casting for the two lead roles. It’s a shame Linzi and Pia left that evening because they really brought the material to life.
