Murder, greed, adultery, corruption and treachery, it sounds like an episode from your favourite soap opera.
But this was so much better. Chicago the Musical rolled into Oxford last night taking to the New Theatre stage, and it’s definitely essential viewing.
This was two-hours packed full of music, dance, fantastic singing, humour, fabulous facial expressions (thank you Faye Brookes who played Roxie Hart) and so much more.
Alongside Faye was a great cast including Kevin Clifton (Billy Flynn), Djalenga Scott as Velma Kelly and Brenda Edwards as Matron Mama Morton.
Plot Summary: A Story of Crime and Fame
Set in the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her bit on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she hires Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer Billy Flynn and together they change the narrative from murder to self-defence and transform her into a “phony” celebrity and the new darling of the press.
Meanwhile, fellow murderess Velma Kelly fights to keep the spotlight on herself, setting the stage for a battle of egos, deception, and showbiz ambition.
Performance Highlights: A Standout Cast
Faye Brookes shines as Roxie Hart, delivering an engaging, cheeky, and utterly captivating performance, complete with expressive facial acting that kept the audience hooked.
Kevin Clifton (Billy Flynn) proves he’s more than just a dancer, delivering smooth vocals and charismatic stage presence that made his performance a standout.
Djalenga Scott (Velma Kelly) stuns with powerful vocals and an effortlessly commanding stage presence.
Brenda Edwards (Matron Mama Morton) was sensational, bringing the house down with her performance of “When You’re Good to Mama.”
Top Moments: Unforgettable Musical Numbers
Chicago opened with the brilliant All that Jazz, performed by the stunning Djalenga Scott accompanied to perfect timing by the cast. And the show just got better with ‘Razzle Dazzle’, ‘Cell Block Tango’, and ‘When you are good to Mama’ performed by the fabulous Brenda.
There was lots of humour in this production – we laughed as Roxie’s fellow inmates at Cook County Jail described why they were ‘inside’ – one who was irritated by her husband and “fired two warning shots – in his head” another mixed her cheating husband a drink and then bemoaned that he died saying “some guys can’t hold their arsenic”.
Some of our highlights included ‘Roxie’ performed by Roxie and the boys (with lots of hips, gyrating and wiggling). Watch-out for the band’s solo performance at the start of the second half – we loved it and so did they!
Minimalist Set, Maximum Impact
Unlike most musicals, Chicago relies on a simple set, with the band positioned on stage instead of in the pit. This stripped-back approach allowed the actors, music, and choreography to shine, proving that a big spectacle isn’t always necessary for a phenomenal performance.
Final Verdict: A Must-See Musical!
If you love jazz, crime stories, and dazzling performances, Chicago at New Theatre Oxford is a must-see. The phenomenal cast, toe-tapping tunes, and sharp humour make for an unforgettable night out.
Faye Brooks was great as Roxie and really owned the character, she’s got a great voice, great moves and as mentioned earlier, really engaged with the audience through her great facial expressions.
Final mention must go to Kevin Clifton, who we all knew was a fantastic dancer from his time on Strictly Come Dancing, but did you know he’s also got a great voice!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars – Go See It! 🎭✨
If you do one thing this week, book tickets and go and see this show.
- Live at New Theatre Oxford: Mon 24th February – Sat 1st March 2025
- Tickets & Info: ATG Tickets – Chicago at New Theatre Oxford
