YEOVIL Youth Theatre has taken on another big, spectacular show for its Octagon November production, and brings the jazzy sleaze of 1930s Chicago to life, in the High School edition.
It’s got all the story and music of the original, with some of the stronger language and sexual references omitted, but you’d have to be daft not to pick up the bones of the story.
Directed again by Alan Forster, this show is choreographed by Victoria Dominguez and the 17-year-old Jessamy Bowditch is in charge of the music, conducting the youthful ten-strong orchestra on stage.
It’s a story of Cook County murderesses and how an unscrupulous celebrity lawyer manipulates the press, and so the public, into believing fake news. Very topical for a city where a Trump Tower stands tall.
The vastness of the Octagon stage can be a challenge for the voices of some young performers, aged from 13 to 18, but YYT has always been able to fill the space.
This is a show with stars, but the essence of the company is that it gives everyone a chance to shine.
Many of those in the leading roles are newcomers to YYT, although they’ve been seen in many of the other companies in the area.
Outstanding are Phoebe Livingstone as yesterday’s murderess Velma Kelly, George Souster as the loveable patsy, Amos Hart, and Paige Travers as the murderous June. Molly Beaumont (Roxie Hart) particularly impressed in Me and My Baby, with the suave Finlay Nias as lawyer Billy Flynn.
The show is full of big production numbers like All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango (He had it Coming), and Razzle Dazzle.
GP-W