THINK Chicago and think of an alcohol-fuelled city famous for gangsters, glamour -- and all that jazz.

Unfortunately, this touring production of the acclaimed musical could boast only two of those essential criteria. A great band and a complimentary glass of wine at the interval.

As for the rest, well, I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just never seemed to get off the ground. The costumes seemed a little tatty, the set a bit crummy, the lighting and sound less Broadway, New York, more Broadway, Haslingden.

Manchester's Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly gave their all but were supported by a very poor Marti Pellow as Billy Flynn, a hotshot lawyer portrayed with the most truly appalling and incomprehensible American accent I have ever had the difficulty to understand.

After the press cuttings and ultra-glam movie trailers for the Chicago the Movie, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was more than the Palace offered last night.

OK, but the "razzle dazzle" just wasn't there.

CHICAGO THE MUSICAL. Palace Theatre, Manchester.