Theatre Review: Chicago at the Bristol Hippodrome
The Show: Chicago
Running Dates: Monday 19th May – Saturday 24th May
Rating: ★★★★★
“From Crime to Cabaret – A Killer Night with Chicago”
Last night, I was whisked away into the smokey, sultry world of 1920s Chicago at the Bristol Hippodrome, as the award-winning musical took to the stage. With a star-studded cast featuring Faye Brookes, Brenda Edwards and Kevin Clifton, I knew we were in for something special. And what a night it was. Chicago doesn’t just entertain – it seduces, dazzles and grips you from start to finish.
As a first-time viewer of Chicago, I wasn’t overly familiar with the plot, but the story, based on real events, was delivered with clarity and a real emotional depth. Chicago follows the journey of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who in a rage of passion, murders her lover. We bear witness to Roxie manipulating her crime, fame, and the press to escape conviction. We’re invited into a world of scandal, seduction, and stardom – who could resist?
For the production, the orchestra quite literally took centre stage, set atop a tiered platform where they became part of the action. Musicians interacted with the cast, while hidden doors in the structure provided dramatic entrances and exits. The minimalist, unchanging set was the perfect backdrop, allowing the focus to truly hone in on the outstanding performances of each cast member, which were followed with precision by spotlights.
Faye Brookes excelled as Roxie Hart, commanding the stage with confidence, charisma and a knowing wink to the audience. Her experience as a performer was unmistakable. A standout moment for me was “We Both Reached for the Gun,” in which Roxie becomes the ventriloquist dummy to her puppet master lawyer, Billy Flynn. It was executed with razor-sharp timing and precision – a true masterclass in choreography, musicality and stagecraft.
Every member of the cast had extraordinary talent; this was a company of true triple threats. Another surprising and captivating performance was “A Little Bit of Good” by Mary Sunshine – the voluptuous blonde reporter covering Roxie’s case – sung with soaring, operatic clarity by Jordan Lee Davies. The audience audibly gasped during a shocking reveal, as Billy Flynn pulled off Mary’s wig and dress – a wonderful moment that underlined one of the show’s central messages: nothing is ever quite what it seems.
Act Two opened with a bold instrumental number from the orchestra, who were every bit as engaging as the cast; a rare and delightful dynamic where the music didn’t just support the show but became part of the story itself.
The audience was completely captivated. We felt every emotion, from sympathy for the lovably invisible Amos to the extreme hunger for stardom from Velma Kelly, Roxie’s rival cellmate. No one wanted it to end. And when it did? A roaring standing ovation.
The sharp wit and dark humour bypassed topics of both morality and mortality, and instead, gave the audience what we really wanted; scandal, glamour and stardom. And despite being set nearly a century ago, Chicago feels just as relevant as ever. Fame is so fleeting, yet so many people lust after it. And is there such thing as bad publicity? Some say not. But who knows? That’s for us to decide.
To experience the wonder of Chicago for yourself, head here to book tickets.
For the complete theatre experience, start with an early dinner at The Square Club on leafy Berkeley Square, just a short walk down Park Street from the theatre. Planning to stay overnight? Treat yourself to the luxurious Berkeley Suites, recently awarded the Condé Nast Award for Excellence. It’s the ideal way to complete a magical night at the theatre.
