| What: Chicago- the musical – South Africa 2025 When: Cape Town – Artscape – August 27 to September 28, Johannesburg Montecasino’s Teatro, October 3 to November 9 Director: Tânia Nardini Musical Director: Kevin Kraak Choreographer: Gary Chryst Cast includes: Kiruna-Lind Devar, Samantha Peo, Jonathan Roxmouth, Tankiso Mamabolo, M. E. Marvey, Dean De Klerk and ensemble Bookings: https://www.ticketmaster.co.za/ |
We were charmed and captivated by Chicago, the musical at Artscape in Cape Town on September 27, 2025. The season wrapped up, September 28. Now it is Joburg’s turn. Chicago is on October 3 to November 9 at Montecasino’s Teatro.
We were away so it was very last minute to see this stunning musical – one of my all-time favourites. All the descriptions by others and more: Polished, energetic, slick, sexy. The precision is breathtaking. The Cape Town season sold out so bookings are advisable for Joburg.
The entire cast is superb. The ensemble is more than a support with knockout performances. The tech specs are top notch – with excellent sound, lighting and seamless transitions between scenes, subtly rigged through lighting and props.
This is the 4th season of Chicago in South Africa and each iteration has been a dazzler. I think that this staging is perhaps more theatrical than the previous runs. The drama of the protagonists and their journeys have been deepened in this staging. The dance is still razzle dazzle but the characters have been fleshed out. The satirical punch bites deep, enhancing the morality tale of greed and corruption very much as a cautionary tale for our times.
Lovely synergy between Samantha Peo (Velma Kelly) and Kiruna-Lind Devar (Roxie Hart) – channelling gravitas into the twisted psyches of these two complex women as they fight for their survival and celebrity. They are less evil, inviting I think, understanding of their conflicted personalities as murderesses and battles for agency as women in a patriarchal society. They come across, less stylised and embody a fragility and brokenness that I haven’t experienced in previous productions. It brings a different and interesting energy to the musical.
Tankiso Mamabolo is fabulous as Matron Mamma Morton – dazzling with her vocal and theatrical smarts. The character of Mamma Morton was inspired by the great comedian and entertainer, Sophie Tucker and Tankiso textures Mamma M with all that gorgeous sassiness and spunk
Jonathan Roxmouth is delicious as the sleazy lawyer- Billy Flynn. The famous ventriloquist scene is magic. Billy manipulates Roxy – like a puppet – putting words into her mouth. Crime pays – if you can afford top legal representation.
Dean De Klerk as Amos is terrific – nailing the poignant Mr Cellophane song – which always brings me to tears.
The band, under the musical direction of maestro, Kevin Kraak is as always another character in this musical. The band underscores the music, the references to vaudeville and jazz. The allure and seduction of the music is heightened, as we get entranced vaudeville style by the spectacle, of the celebrity murderesses and the manipulation of the media and legal fraternity. This was Chicago in the 1920s but it reverberates very much in 2025.
An aspect that I love about Chicago is the “jewel box” staging – evoking a vaudeville theatre. The band sits on an elevated platform and the protagonists interact with the musos, making entrances and exits. The band stand is jury box, jail, escape hatch, pit, nightclub. Mary Sunshine, the wildcard journalist (ME Marvey) rules the lair. I won’t spoil the plot reveal.
The minimalist stark design is a hallmark of Chicago, the stage musical. The design and dynamic use of space, theatrically is without audio visuals and flickering tech which has become a staple of contemporary musicals.
There is a stillness of the set which works as a foil to the dance and razzle dazzle. Together with the signature Bob Fosse and Anne Reinking inspired choreography, it makes for compelling theatre. In this production, I got a deep sense of the pit as the container of this dark and entertaining satire. Together with simple props, like chairs, striking lighting, Chicago is a masterclass in the art of musical THEATRE.
A shout- out to the ensemble – which includes Nicolette Fernandes, Lesego van Niekerk, Jenna Robinson Child, Alexandra Girard, Ferdinand W Gernandt, Michael Fullard, Dirk Joubert, Hugo Madeleyn, Angelica Hattingh, Ashley Scott, Bronwyn Craddock, Leah Mari, Johan Dippenaar, Jonathan Raath, Kent Jeycocke and Nkosinathi Mazwai.
Congrats to Showtime Management for bringing us another razzle dazzle Chicago: Chicago The Musical SA 2025.
