Press Releases

Guilty of Perfection

California Chronicle
March 31, 2009
by Paul Taylor

A SHOW-STOPPING musical accused of murder, sex, scandal, singing and dancing; but was last night's performance of box office smash hit Chicago guilty or not guilty of committing such tempting and tantalising promises?

As foreman of the jury and on behalf of the Empire Theatre audience last night I'm honoured to deliver the verdict. Guilty as charged!

This touring production of the story is outstanding in every detail and certainly shows why it is a worldwide success.

Set in Chicago, Illinois, during the late 1920s we follow the lives of Roxie Hart (Emma Barton) and Velma Kelly (Twinnie-Lee Moore), two jailbirds both on a murder charge in the Cook County Jail.

Desperate to stay in the media spotlight that their supposed crimes are giving them, they enlist the help of smooth talking lawyer and allround bobby dazzler Billy Flynn (Jimmy Osmond) to get them off the hook and continue making sure they are all anyone's talking about.

Emma Barton shows just how wasted she was at EastEnders by giving a brilliant performance; a special mention must be had for her superb rag doll-like acting during showpiece We Both Reached For The Gun.

Jimmy Osmond certainly lives up to expectations and after a brief microphone malfunction last night certainly gave the crowd some Razzle Dazzle.

But it was Twinnie-Lee Moore who stole the show for me with a captivating interpretation of her character and superb vocals on opener All That Jazz.

A supporting cast full of muscled men and scantily-clad women in skintight dresses show throughout that they are just as magnificent as their lead co-stars, deserving just as much praise.

The Bob Fosse-inspired choreography is outstanding and performed so tightly and with such accurate precision that I defy you not to be left wowed as limbs become poised with model angle qualities.

The live on-stage orchestra is an amazing addition to the production and their live jazz notes add that extra something to this already stellar production.

Roxie Hart declares in her press interview "ladies and gentlemen, I'm just so flattered yar'll came to see little old me".

Do yourself a favour and don't let the lady down