ARTS & CULTURE
ALL THAT JAZZ
A story of merry murderesses, sleazy singing lawyers and vaudeville vixens set against the glamour of the jazz age, Chicago is one of the most popular stage shows ever. Beginning on Broadway in the 1970s, with a hugely successful revival in the 1990s, it’s made even more compelling by the fact that the story is based on two real-life female murderers in the 1920s – and the media circus that surrounded them. This month, you can see the razzle dazzle world of Chicago brought to life by Cambridge Theatre Company, a local youth theatre group known for their ambitious productions. Running at the Great Hall at The Leys from 23 to 26 October, the show features classic numbers like All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango , with a cast of all-singing, all-dancing young performers. The story follows Roxie Hart, a wannabe Vaudeville star accused of murdering her lover. She persuades her husband to take the rap for it, but when he finds out he’s been duped, he turns on Roxie. Arrested and sent to jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, a double murderess, nightclub performer and the media’s top ‘murderer of the week’. As the two women vie for the reporters’ flashbulbs, their behaviour becomes ever more outrageous. “My favourite song is Funny Honey, ” says 18-year-old Rosie Dorsett, who plays Roxie. “This is when we see the switch in Roxie’s character and the audience starts to see a different side to her. Roxie is an ambitious character and quite a challenging one, which appeals to me because I wanted to explore the different and difficult characteristics that she has. I also love her musical numbers!” “Our version of Chicago is different to what people have seen before,” she adds. “It’s fun and enjoyable, and it showcases the young talent in Cambridge and surrounding areas.” Director Chris Cuming, a Cambridge Theatre Company regular, comments: “ Chicago ’s style of production is so iconic with the Bob Fosse choreography that’s intrinsic to the piece. However, when you look at what the piece is about historically, it’s not much different to what is going on in America at the moment, so we’ve tried to look at the story in today’s world and merge Chicago and Orange is the New Black .” Tickets cost £22.50 for adults or £18.50 for kids/concessions, and can be booked via Cambridge Live. cambridgelive.org.uk/tickets
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