Today is the day that Chicago would be wrapping after a long-awaited return to the West End.
Chicago resided in London’s West End for 15 years at the hopping from Adelphi Theatre to Cambridge Theatre then to Garrick Theatre until its last show on 1st September 2012. Making it the longest-running American musical in West End history.
This was mainly due to the London 2012 Olympic Games draining necessary attention from the West End causing Blood Brothers to also close two months afterwards.
But it triumphantly returns to celebrate its 21st Anniversary of the West End revival production at the Phoenix Theatre opening April 11, 2018.
I was definitely not going to miss this.
Nothing motivates us more than the last minute. I realised this was ending soon and managed to grab tickets not just for the last week of the production but for the first day of 2019.
Talk about a way to start the year off!
I was certainly pleasantly surprised. I have never watched the fim and have spent years out of the loop with regards to Chicago references. Only knowing parts of the sountrack from dance choreographies.
It opened with these very words:
“Welcome. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to see a story of
murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery – all those things we all hold near and dear to our hearts. Thank you.”
Oh and it did not fail to deliver on all those points.
What was refreshing was that the band and conductor wasn’t only in plain sight but was incorporated into the actual musical.
The stage set was nothing remarkable but it wasn’t really necessary as it was the cast and razzle dazzle dance numbers that carried the performance.
At the end of the performance I was flabbergasted to discover that Roxie Hart was played by, a recurring presenter in my youth, Caroline Flack. Growing up in the UK if you tuned on BBC2 every Friday from 2006 you would greeted the iconic TMi trio of Caroline, Sam & Mark.
I was shocked that a figure I basically grew up with has such a presence and vocal prowess on stage.
Another act that stood out was Todrick Hall as the flashy big shot laywer, Billy Flynn.
I was captivated by the entire cast’s graceful movements.
Could possibly be the sexiest show to have graced the West End.
Until Next Time,
Salve S.
~A big relief before I get back into uni stress~
~New Year, Same Me~
Live In Three 
I have to wait until Feb. to see my first musical of the year.
From someone who lives in the United States- getting to Broadway is not an option for me- too far away. I live in Charlotte, NC- so tours are the way to go: my musical theatre year begins in Feb. on the 21st: US Tour of Miss Saigon (gift from Santa)
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Waiting for Musical tour dates must painful but when you actually get a chance to see it in person. All the wait is even more worth it. It’s like catching a glimpse of a shooting star.
Hope you enjoy Miss Saigon! I missed it in the West End but my mum and brother has seen it and found it really emotional.
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I have handled Les Mis and Rent- I was an emotional wreck watching both of them. If I can handle Les Mis and Rent, I think I can handle Miss Saigon as well. Relying on tours- one of the hardest parts is waiting
Back in high school, I was against shows like those- I was anti-tragedy: I told myself I will NEVER love tragedies- they are pure sad- I thought they were nothing else. Les Mis proved me wrong- it is one of the reasons why it was meaningful.
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Your highschool self is similar to my mum. She went into Miss Saigon completely blind. Then went to watch Mama Mia to cheer herself up.
As for myself, I’m a tragedy (in any form of media) appreciator and avoider as I’m a wreck for a good six months after I watch one then throw myself into another.
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I went into Les Mis completely blind as well- I didn’t know Les Mis was a TRAGEDY the first time I saw it- that was film. The moment I realized it was a TRAGEDY, I was shocked and confused- I didn’t know how to respond to what I was watching. I was like- musicals are not supposed to be this way. Rough start to Les Mis.
So had to give Les Mis a 2nd chance before really becoming a fan of it.
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I’ll tick Les Mis off the bucket list after several more months of mental preparation XD
How do you prepare yourself for the tragedy?
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I never thought of that.
I am so emotionally connected to Les Mis- it really does not take that much preparing for me in Les Mis. When I actually see it- I just let the emotions happen- I don’t control them- I let them happen.
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