'A musical so fun it should be criminal!': A student review of the Senior School Musical, Chicago.

Is there any musical filled with more sass and jazz than Chicago? Set in 1926, Chicago is the story of Velma Kelly who murders her husband while well-polished lawyer Billy Flynn helps to defend her case. When Roxie Hart is also imprisoned, Billy takes on her interest as well, taking attention away from Velma's headlines. The two furiously competitive women battle it out to win the public fame, love and celebrity title of Chicago through song and dance.

Unfortunately, due to COVID–19, the Senior School Musical wasn't able to run a full season, but I was one of the lucky few who were chosen to attend an exclusive viewing. In astonishment, I could not help but tap my foot and smile as I watched the famous numbers of the 'Cell Block Tango' and 'Mister Cellophane', just to name a few. The portrayal of all characters was captured to perfection through sweet vocals, slick and rhythmic dancing and skilled acting, in parallel with the support from the ensemble who also mastered these talents. Despite a compromised use of location, setting and props, it was evident that the cast and band did not let this hold them back. A tiered platform which created elevation on the stage ensured that all cast members and the band (sneakily tucked in the background) could be viewed. The minimal use of props allowed the audience to visualise the scene more imaginatively, which was achieved effortlessly by the effective acting of the cast. In addition, the musical would not be a musical without the band, who supplied sounds indescribable, complimenting the dance and acting to perfection!

Overall, I was blown away with the brilliance of this show as they definitely had me dancing in my seat to 'And All That Jazz'!

A special mention to the director and producer of the production, Tim Schwerdt, and an additional congratulations to all of my fellow Senior School Gadsden students who contributed their personal time, efforts and talents too: Willem Bouw, Vanessa Darmos, Angus McCarthy and Ben Gale.

Olivia Magi
Year 11 Gadsden Student

Originally published in the Gadsden Gazette.