Chicago, Phoenix Theatre review ★★★★★

Get ready to rouge your knees and roll your stockings down: Chicago is bringing all that jazz back to London's West End.

The musical has been giving us all the ol' razzle dazzle for 21 years, with an illustrious history of sellout revivals, standing ovations and awards. Based on a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, with book, songs and music from Bob Fosse, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Chicago tells the story of sex, scandals and show business in the roaring 20s.

This revival sticks firmly to the tried and tested formula. It's not the most imaginative take, but there's enough entertainment value and talent to satisfy.

Star power comes from Oscar-winnng actor Cuba Gooding Jnr, who makes his UK stage debut as smooth-talking lawyer to the stars, Billy Flynn. With rasping vocals and a few rakish winks, what Gooding Jnr may lack in musical theatre slickness he makes up for in roguish charm. Josefina Gabrielle and Sarah Soetaert make a lively, high-kicking double act as murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. And they are well supported by a fishnet-clad ensemble cast, who shimmy their way through plenty of sultry choreography.

The irresistible songbook, spanning the heat-wrenching crooning of 'Mister Cellophane' to the sizzling ensemble of 'Cell Block Tango', sizzles thanks to a particularly impressive on-stage band and form the backdrop of the set.