Set in the smoky underbelly of America’s Jazz Age, fraught with temptation, liquor and the allure of infamy, Chicago is surely one of the most seductive musicals to ever grace the stage.

It’s stood the test of time, first making its debut on Broadway in 1975 and now visiting theatres up and down the country in a nationwide tour, including a six-night stint in Canterbury.

The latest production stars Coronation Street’s Faye Brookes as the ambitious ingénue Roxie Hart, former Strictly champ Kevin Clifton as the silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn and ‘80s popstar Sinitta as the crooked jail warden Matron ‘Mama’ Morton.

The highly stylised show features only one set, no costume changes and minimal special effects. Even after so many years, it’s still all about that Bob Fosse flair and the snappy musical numbers that made it such a hit in the first place.

Djalenga Scott, who plays the feisty murderess Velma Kelly, starts the show with a bang as she leads the cast in the opening number, All That Jazz. Her captivating performance had us eating out of the palm of her hand right from the off.

Djalenga’s assertive presence as Velma paired perfectly with the young naivety of Roxie, whose desperation and hunger for fame make her an easy target for Velma’s manipulative ways.

Faye Brookes played this character perfectly; having never seen her in a musical before, I was hesitant about whether she could fill the tap heels of Renée Zellweger, who was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Roxie Hart in the 2002 film.

However, I was pleasantly surprised, mostly by her excellent comedic timing, but also by her impressive dancing and ability to combine that showgirl pizzazz with a sympathetic innocence, particularly in numbers such as Roxie and Me and My Baby.

Kevin Clifton, best known for his time on the Strictly dancefloor but who has since become a big name in the theatre world, took on the role of Billy Flynn, a suave lawyer who has a penchant for taking on notorious criminal cases and is no stranger to the limelight himself.

It’s a great part, giving the actor a chance to put the showy dance routines to one side and take on a more swish, sophisticated role. However, we still saw glimpses of his fantastic musical timing in the expertly choreographed We Both Reached for the Gun and the charming Razzle Dazzle.

A special shout-out goes to Joshua Lloyd, who plays Roxie’s gullible husband, Amos Hart. He might only have one musical number, Mister Cellophane, but he played the lovelorn spouse so well that my heart broke for him every time he was on stage.

While it looked deceptively simple thanks to the understated set and black costumes, the musical is an undeniable onslaught of show-stopping numbers, from Cell Block Tango to Nowadays, and the band is on full display so audiences could see the jazzy score being brought to life.

And, as Velma and Roxie would say, in 50 years or so, things are going to change, but I reckon this musical has got at least another half-century left in it yet.

Chicago is at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday, May 17. You can book tickets here.

You can also book tickets by calling 01227 787787.