Chicago

It’s 10 years since Chicago was last seen in Townsville, so it was good timing for the Choral Society to bring back this vibrant, exciting show. Director Pat Nuttall put together a generally young, but certainly talented ensemble and the end result made for a wonderful night’s entertainment.

Kylie Fusco as Velma Kelly and Jasmin Delle Baite as Roxie Hart both tackled their roles with vibrant enthusiasm, and Velma’s dance routine in “I Can’t Do It Alone” was a show stopper. Liam Mooney made his debut in a lead role as lawyer Billy Flynn and, after showing some nervousness in Act 1, he grew into the part as the night went on; the end result was a great success.

Matthew Palmer gave an audience-appealing interpretation of Amos Hart, and Daniela Tama as Mama Morton and Kim Nuttall as Mary Sunshine rounded out the lead roles and both played their parts well thanks to input from experienced vocal director Cheryl Platt. But it is the men’s and women’s chorus who deserve special mention. Their sexy outfits and erotic dance routines were certainly stand-outs. Choreographer Lynda Tama got the most out of them with “Cell Block Tango” which for me was the highlight of the evening. I must disclose that the Musical Director, Claire Dickson, is the daughter of your reviewer, but I don’t think anyone attending could disagree that the orchestra was exceptionally good. They gave us a tight, brassy sound without overwhelming the singers.

The season of Chicago was close to a sell-out, and the audiences were mostly thrilled with their experience. Perhaps it’s time to extend the season for big musicals to two weeks. There certainly seems to be a call for it from Townsville theatre-goers so the idea is worth considering.

Ray Dickson