"Chicago Teen Edition" by Centre Stage Theatre Arts.

Landau Forte College, Derby.

Making big musicals accessible for youth groups to perform as "Junior", "Youth" or "Teen" editions only mean that any bad language or adult references have been removed, so gives younger, local theatre groups the opportunity to produce musicals that they might have shied away from previously. It still includes all of those classic musical theatre songs like "All That Jazz", "Razzle Dazzle", "Cell Block Tango", "Roxie", "Mr Cellophane" and "They Both Reached For the Gun" among the soundtrack favourites.

The musical is the story of Roxie Hart who is married to wimpy Amos Hart, but has a lover, Fred Casey, who one night pops round and ends up being fatally shot by Roxie. She is arrested and jailed where she runs into Velma Kelly, who becomes a rival on just about every front.

Mama Morton, who runs the women’s prison, negotiates a deal with high flying, hot-shot lawyer Billy Flynn to get Roxie off the charge, which puts Velma’s nose out of joint as she is no longer the centre of attention. How fickle is Flynn and the media world? Well this musical answers that!

But surely I am preaching to the converted here as there can’t be many people who have not seen the film “Chicago” which starred Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger, so you all know the outcome of this glitzy musical packed with razzle dazzle.

I was absolutely overwhelmed by the talent from this massive cast. So that I don't have to repeat myself too often, the vocals from this cast and ensemble were absolutely spot on. Bob Fosse's signature choreography of curved shoulders, hip rolls and thrusts, turned-in knees and toes, sideways shuffling, insistent finger snaps, and the famous jazz hands are all in there and beautifully executed. And the characterisation is wonderful.

Roxie Hart is played by Bella Kiddle who really gets this character. One of the scenes that I was really looking forward to was the "They Both Reached For The Gun" section as it's not the simplest of scenes to co ordinate or sing; anyone who knows this musical will know what I mean, but the co ordination and vocals were great. Bella also has a voice made for musical theatre, and is well matched by Nathaniel, who played Billy Flynn. A really fun performance and the urgency of Roxie's acquittal comes through Bella's performance. 

Velma Kelly is played by Amy Loweth. I said that I'd try not to repeat myself too often, but here I go again. What a voice, and what a very mature performance. Velma is on some ways a bit of a slimeball, but she has to be to stay tough inside and fight for her rights, and that all comes across in Amy's performance.

Billy Flynn, the high-flying lawyer that everyone wants in their corner, is played by Nathaniel Dale. Nathaniel is a young man who, straight away from his first scene as Flynn, commanded your attention. Flynn is THE MAN, and Nathaniel made sure that we all knew that he was in charge of the situation, as long as it was to his own ends! I don't know how old Nathaniel is but what a voice he has. There are some long notes in some of Flynn's songs but Nathaniel held those notes strongly, especially in Flynn's big song "All I Care About Is Love". Great stage presence, characterisation and voice, and a very slick performance that matches Flynn's hair!

Adam Patten got the audience on his side as the doormat that is Amos Hart. Again, another excellent character actor who also showed brilliant vocal talents, and timing, in his featured song, "Mr Cellophane".

Mylie Randle, as Mama Morton, showed she was the boss. What vocals she gave in the awesome "When You're Good To Mama", which is one musical theatre song that has so many double entendres, thankfully that should go over the heads of the younger audience members.

Fred Casey, Roxie's bit on the side, is played by Johnny Grant. Not a big part, but an essential part. Johnny makes sure that in the courtroom scene, he brings the comedy required for that section.

Grace Simpson plays the reporter Mary Sunshine. If you've not seen a full version of this musical, you won't know how different this role is for the Teen Edition. That aside, Mary is a minor character, but Grace performed the role well. The problem is that this character has so much more to her in the full show that can't be performed by a younger cast. Again, if you've seen the show before, you'll know what I mean.

Other actors who had specific roles are Laura Barnfield (Annie), Lucy Cripps (Liz), Jude Grant (Mona), Hannah Keane (Fogarty), Rose-Lynn Macrae (Kitty), Francesca Mayne (Hunyak), Thomas Murfin (Harry) and Molly Wileman (June).

A big ensemble consisting of some excellent singers and dancers. Milly Adams, Amelie Aldridge, Esme Basterfield, Libby Batchelor-Needham, Libby Bray, Isabella Brown, Maddison Cocker, Faye Davis, Dolly Foss, Holly Goodling, Maisie Gore, Jessica Hallam, Isabella Hart, Megan Haslam, Millie Heldreich, Georgia Hindley, Evie Iljins, Emily Jones, Beth Kershaw, Hannah Lake - Good Luck for the Eagles Awards tomorrow Hannah, Sophie Lancaster, Faye Long, Georgia Manners, Edward Mason, Olivia Mercer, Callan Minns, Arun Mistry, Ria Mistry, Lorenna Mohidin, Alexandra Owen, Lily Pearce, Lilly Sampson, Elif Sever, Amrit Shergill, Joseph Showler, Libby Spooner, Chloe Stolworthy, Lois Toone, Lilliah Trueman, Molly Village, Lewis Waigand Fishwick, Emily Walker, Holly Watson, Poppy west and Jasper Wright. Where would any musical theatre show be without their ensemble?

Directed by Lucy Cadney and Louise White. This is a big show for any theatre company to stage but CSTA have made it look easy, and we all know that anything that looks as easy as this takes a shed load of hard graft. It moves along at a cracking pace, even with the amount of stage management that is needed with such a huge cast. It looks amazing and it sounds the same. What more could you ask for from any company, never mind a teen company of eleven to eighteen year olds?

Choreographed by Josephine Walker who has kept all the original Fosse elements in the choreography in this show. You can see the hard work that has gone into this area by both Josephine as well as the cast members. Little things that making sure the hands are turned out perfectly just make this show the classy and stylised musical that it is. 

Musical Direction, and as soon as I saw the names credited in the programme, I knew that we'd have no issues in this department. Paul Matthews assisted by Sam Griffiths and Gabryl Olesko. These three are the reasons why the vocals are so good and so full of character. They know how to get the best performances from their cast members, and that is proven in this show.

The Set Designer is Jon Gore as well as CSTA and the staging hire is by another well-known name in theatrical stage hire and construction, Roydon Charlesworth. Loved the "Cell Block Tango" section which was really effective while being minimal and easy to move on and off stage.

Sound design is not mentioned in the programme, but the sound was incredibly clear and balanced with the backing. With a cast this large (sixty odd) you can't have radio mics on everyone so a few speeches were drowned out or not projected enough, but that is by the by. It's a large theatre space and projection will come in time for the younger members, I ain't gonna nit pick.

Lighting design is also not mentioned in the programme, but was one of the highlights, one of so many highlights in this production. It was colourful, jazzy, exciting and full of razzle dazzle, and that big CHICAGO sign that is lit up over the stage, which is the first thing I noticed when walking into the auditorium, was stunning. The lighting was supplied by Tony Stott, so not sure if he also designed the lights, and the sign was thanks to Sam Holbrid.

Costumes are thanks to CSTA parents and students, Fiona Carratu and Five Star Theatre and really gave that glamourous feel to the show.

"Chicago" has always been in my Top 10 favourite musicals, and this performance reminded me just why it is in there.

"Chicago Teen Edition" by Central Stage Theatre Arts will be at Landau Forte College in Derby until Sunday 21 July with a matinee and evening performance.