Chicago 'a pulsating performance'

By SUSAN BUDD

CIVIC THEATRE, Auckland - From its explosive opening with All That Jazz to the grand finale, Chicago does not miss a beat. The energy of the cast as they dance and high-kick round the steel girders of John Parker's magnificently stark set is matched only by the rhythmic verve of the orchestra under Penny Dodd's musical direction.

The production pulsates with life and humour, allowing only the merest touch of pathos to leaven the black comedy of its tale of the search of two murderesses, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, for fame and fortune. Under Michael McLean's direction, the savage satiric edge given by the manipulation of the media and then the justice system by greedy and megalomaniac publicity-seekers is finely balanced against the broad burlesque of the women's lives.

The principals' performances are terrific. Tina Cross gives a tough, sexy and funny portrayal of Roxie, but still manages to convey a hint of the lost girl who can say simply, "I am older than I ever wanted to be".

She high-kicks like a teenager and belts out her numbers with irrepressible gaiety.

As the more laidback Velma, Suzanne Lee brings a touch of class, the death of which she so hilariously laments with the matron of Cook County Jail, to her playing of the hard-hearted chorine who so efficiently disposed of the other half of her sister act and her errant husband. She sings as sweetly as an angel, with richness of tone and depth of feeling.

Ann Pacey glitters like the rhinestones she sports in such abundance as matron Mama Morton and G. Lyons is a flutey Mary Sunshine.

Grant Bridger, his silver hair sparkling like sequins under the footlights, makes his entrance under an honour guard of chorus girls bearing red ostrich feathers. He is sensational as Billy Flynn, the lawyer and publicist extraordinaire whose self-love far exceeds that of the girls at his feet.

As fantastic as those performances are, it is when choreographer Ben Lokey as Amos Hart, Roxie's benighted husband, sings Mr Cellophane with grace, style and wit that we see the best of musical theatre.