By: Natasha Archary
With the title, “sexiest show on Broadway,” Chicago the Musical, oozes lustful indulgence in every sense of the word. Attending the opening night at the Teatro Montecasino last week was sensational. We left feeling like one of the stunning femme fatales on stage.
Story through song
Chicago is a captivating tale about murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery, you know all the characteristics the entire world is drawn to.
Created by the acclaimed Broadway trio, John Kader, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse in 1975 and based on the Broadway play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins, who was a journalist from the Chicago Tribune.
Watkins, covered the sensational trials of two women, both of whom were accused of killing their respective lovers while under the influence of jazz and drink. Chicago the musical holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the second longest-running musical in Broadway history. The show currently plays its 22ndyear in New York and is running at Montecasino until the 26 May 2019.
What’s to love?
What’s not to? A gripping story that is brought to life with scintillating fervor and sensational performances by the multi-talented South African cast. Yes, that’s right, cast, band and crew are all locally honed and if you needed another reason to attend a show, let this be it. We have incredibly talented theatre actors and they own the stage, every single one of them.
Razzling and dazzling the audience with musical prowess and dance routines that leave the audience gasping for breath at times, it’s enlightening to watch how a story so many women can relate to, brought to life in such a humorous and entertaining way.
A tale of unhealthy relationships and sordid bedroom activities that many women in the country choose to hide from the world. Because to talk about it, means its reality, so we’d rather put on a front and pretend our way through.
Perfect girls’ night out
Rally up the girls. Buy a feathered boa. Put on some fishnet stockings and a red lip and get your tickets for Chicago the Musical. Opening week was completely sold out. Another mark of how popular the show is. Former Isidingo actress turned theatre queen, Ilse Klink, captivates in her role as Matron Mama Morton.
Every woman can relate to the show. Because apart from touching on matters of the heart and our turbulent love lives, it’s a story at its root about women standing up for each other. At the heart, Chicago may be perceived as raunchy but at its core, it’s a story about life and the fight women have always had to endure.
For equality. To be noticed. Recognized. Loved. Respected. Fame is a fickle friend. And Chicago leaves you feeling invincible as a woman. With a message that will stay with you for a long time. You are enough.
Rating
We love theatre productions and look for quality in a few areas, namely stage and lighting, sound quality and orchestra, cast talent, storyline. We also looked for even the slightest errs throughout the in-depth first and second halves and found absolutely nothing. Not a single thing to fault.
From the props and outfits, the tight bodies of every cast member (except Amos – Grant Towers) to the story breaking the 3rdwall and roping the audience into the narrative. Or the insane theatrics of the cast with their aerial and acrobatics. If this is what it was like in 1975 then take me back there because I’m clearly an old soul with a touch of classy vixen.
Chicago the Musical gets a 10/10 and I do not regret the bedazzled, red feathered headband the bestie forced me to wear on opening night. I will from this moment on channel my inner 70’s Broadway pin-up to any and all future relationships.
