Coming in April - Strictly Musicals 3

Rehearsals are hotting up for theatre show

Cast members of Strictly Musicals 3 - the latest offering from Darlington Operatic Society (DarlingtonOS) - are being put thorough their paces as musical numbers within the show start to take shape.

Strictly Musicals 3 is the third offering of a series of 'songs from the shows' style productions by DarlingtonOS, the first being back in 2013.

In this third edition audiences will be entertained with songs from classic shows such as The King and I, Mack & Mabel and Chicago alongside extracts from modern-day favourites such as Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton and The Bodyguard. There will also be examples from some lesser-known shows such as Something Rotten, Bonnie & Clyde and Songs for a New World.

Julian Cound from DarlingtonOS said "This is one of the most exciting stages of the rehearsal period when we see the imagination of our director / choreographer Joanne Hand come to life as she pieces together her amazing, original choreography to go with the stunning vocals the company have been learning under the musical direction of Steven Hood."

"Putting a concert style production together is so much more difficult than working on a book show. From a blank piece of paper the production team have to create 2 hours of musical magic that offers something for everyone and with Strictly Musicals 3 I can guarantee audiences will not be disappointed."

Strictly Musicals 3 has a cast of 52 local, talented amateur performers who will be working flat out over the next 9 weeks to ensure the show is ready for opening night on Wednesday 22 April at Darlington Hippodrome.

Julian concluded "there is a massive appetite for musical theatre here in the North East and Strictly Musicals brings the best of the best together for two hours of magic. If you are a fan of musicals then you will simply love Strictly Musicals 3."

Strictly Musicals 3 runs at Darlington Hippodrome from Wednesday 22 April to Saturday 2 May. Thursday 30 April is a BSL Interpreted performance and both Friday performances will be audio described.

Tickets are available from the ticket hotline 01325 244659 or book online at www.darlingtonos.org.uk

Chicago @ Sunderland Empire

Most people have heard of, or seen, Chicago - for many it was the 2002 movie starring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones that brought them to the delights of Matron Mama Morton and her death row divas but whilst the glamour & glitz of the Hollywood version remains true to the text of the story, you have to see it live on stage to really feel the energy and raw power of the whole experience.

I've seen the stage production of Chicago half a dozen times now, including in the West End (twice) but this is undoubtedly the best version.  The choreography is simply stunning - it oozes sex appeal, is as tight as a snare drum and gives you all the razzle dazzle mixed with the seedy, snarling, downright dirty underbelly of Chicago in the 1920's.  This is where it strips away the gloss & sanitised safety of the film and exposes you to fabulous dance routines, sultry vocals and a grown-up level of humour.

From the very first number, "All that Jazz" it is obvious that the audience are going to be treated to a non-stop master class in ensemble dancing, direction and production.  This is THE example any budding dancer, show director or stage producer should see - the ingenious use of the set, the positioning of the band (who were as much a part of the visual delight as they were the audio) and the simple yet evocative costumes demonstrate theatre at its very best. 

Taking the lead roles last night were Tupele Dorgu and Chloe Ames - two girls who, to date have had very different degrees of exposure.  Ms Dorgu boasts a very wide & varied list of TV productions including Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Casualty, Doctors and a hall of fame entry for crossing the big red balls in Total Wipeout.  As Velma Kelly she has all the sass and bravado coupled with a great voice and some stunning moves; she manages to inject a degree of pathetic desperation just under the skin which always threatens to breakout and ruin the otherwise completely-in-control Kelly - it is this vulnerability which creates the juxtaposition at the end of the show as Velma & Roxie realise they really are alike.

Chloe Ames, who is billed as Hunyak (the Hungarian murderess, who ironically only has two words of English in the whole show) stepped into the lead role and was simply amazing.  Roxie, in her hands, was a little girl lost, a brash almost arrogant temptress and a naive but headstrong showgirl. When sexy was required she was molten gold, when vulnerable was needed she was doe-eyed innocence and when it was time for comedy she was classic timing perfected. 

The role of Roxie is very demanding, not just for the complex layers of the character but because, being the lead in so much of the story line, she needs to dance, act, sing and belt through many of the shows headline hits.  It really places the actress front & centre to be judged and compared against all others who have played Ms Hart, a list which includes such noted stars as Denise Van Outen, Claire Sweeney, Jennifer Ellison, Ruthie Henshall and even Bonnie Langford and I can say, with great certainty, that Chloe Ames deserves to be included in that list too.  She may have yet to take top billing herself, but, Ms Ames, your time is nigh and theatre will be all the richer for it.