Chicago The Musical: Newcastle Theatre Royal

LITTLE could “Beautiful Beulah” Annan have imagined how she would be immortalised for pulling the trigger on her lover in 1920s Chicago. But Kander and Ebb (composer and lyricist) along with Bob Fosse (the show’s original choreographer) , have ensured her immortality in their high-octane, 1975, jazz musical.

Now reincarnated as Roxie Hart, she is played with wide-eyed innocence and ceaseless energy by Dancing on Ice champion, Hayley Tamaddon, perfectly partnered by Sophie Carmen-Jones as feisty fellow inmate, Velma Kelly. The show fair bursts into action as Velma leads a scandalously sexy company in All That Jazz and it is not long before Roxie’s fellow murderesses are describing their homicidal inclinations in the Cell Block Tango.

In fact this is a musical full of melodic and familiar numbers with none more so than lawyer Billy Flynn’s Razzle Dazzle, delivered complete with long-held note by EastEnders’ John Partridge, and Roxie’s long-suffering husband’s Mister Cellophane, winningly delivered by Neil Ditt.

My own particular stars of this sassy, cabaret-style musical, however, have to be the members of the band. Led by musical director Ben Atkinson they are on-stage throughout and look as though they have been dropped into some sort of giant tilted selection box. A zanier collection of great musicians it would be hard to find, and make sure you don’t leave the auditorium before the final notes are played.

* Runs until Saturday, August 13. Box Office: 08448-112121 or theatreroyal.co.uk

Laurence Sach