Chicago is back. And now that its West End run is over, you can only catch the famous musical on tour. Katherine MacAlister tracks down the two main leads Stefan Booth and Ali Bastion to see if they’ve got what it takes

* Stefan Booth is homesick. There’s no hiding that, but he doesn’t regret a second of his 11-month run in Chicago: “We are near the end now, in the final lurch, and it’s been a monster,” he chuckles.

“But I still look forward to it every night, and I don’t know how but Chicago keeps growing on me. It’s magic. “Maybe that’s because it’s coming to an end or maybe it’s working with a live band, but it brings something to the show and means I still really enjoy it.”

Fresh from the EastEnders set, Stefan is living the dream. But with a new family at home in London he feels a real wrench between his career and homelife. “I miss my little people, watching them grow up and hanging out with them. They are two and four, so yes I’m torn.”

“But then I’ve been desperate to play this role because Billy Flynn is a legendary part. So if I’m feeling lacklustre on a Monday morning I know as soon as I hear the music and get the half hour call to get ready it’s still exciting. “That’s the beautiful thing about theatre, because you are privy to something remarkable and in the thick of it, so its quite addictive and I thrive in that environment.”

His enthusiasm is blatant, but then this part has been a long time coming: “I auditioned six years ago for Chicago when I was really ill and spent the audition trying not to vomit, and then I had to watch lots of my friends playing Billy Flynn instead, because it is one of the most coveted parts,” the 35 year-old explains.

So what’s the attraction? “Billy’s such a closed door so it’s something to get your teeth into. He’s a real dark horse and there’s something very mysterious about him. Because he’s charming while having an underlying coldness about him, which is hard to get your hands on, and which I’m really enjoying.”

As for the singing, Stefan says he ”belts it out every night”, something he needed to do perhaps, having burnt his fingers at an early age in the music business. “Yes, I made a conscious decision to become an actor after that,” he admits, “and since then there haven’t been many opportunities to showcase my vocal ability, mainly through choice.”

Until now that is: “Well I’ve been playing romantic leads for the past 10 years and wanted to do something different. So I’ve got my own take on Billy and get to exercise my selfish side and tick all the boxes at the same time.”

As for after the week-long stint in Oxford, will Stefan be frequenting some of his old haunts after the show (he grew up near Oxford)? “Ordinarily I would’ve snuck off for a cheeky pint,” he grins, “but now I’ll be dashing home for some cuddles with the little people.” Showbiz showbiz.

 

* Any doubt that Ali Bastion isn’t in this for the long run evaporate as soon as we speak. She’s still bubbling over with enthusiasm for her part as Roxie Hart, even though Oxford signals the end of the tour.

“We started in January and finish in Oxford so it’s been a long run,” she smiles, “but home for me is near Henley so all my family and friends will be coming to see the show.

“And every night is still a buzz, because at no point can you relax or go on autopilot because Chicago is an intricate story that needs to be told, so it’s important to keep on the ball. But the thing that drew me to Chicago was the script – it’s amazing to be part of it,” Ali tells me.

Whether Ali would have branched into musicals had it not been for her stint in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, (Bastian currently holds the celebrity record for the American Smooth and the Viennese Waltz, receiving a perfect score for both), who knows.

“It means people view you in a different light,” Ali says carefully. “And Strictly was such a great challenge, especially the live shows, because they really take you out of your comfort zone.”

It also provided Ali with a much-needed shift of direction from screen to stage: “I did Hollyoaks for six years, which was my big break, and then The Bill for three, but I felt I needed to keep the air moving and wanted a bit of variety and some new challenges. So when I got the Strictly call it was totally out of the blue. I was camping in the New Forest surrounded by cows and horses at the time, but I didn’t think twice, what a great opportunity, and it took me off on a different angle.”

Musicals were where Ali’s heart lay, and what she’s wanted to star in since she was a little girl: “Chicago is my first musical, so I do feel as if my life has come full circle, because this is what I’ve been dreaming of.”

Even so, Roxie Hart in Chicago is still a massively daunting part: “Chicago does come with that feeling of having big shoes to fill and so many amazing actresses have played Roxie already,” Ali agrees. “But regardless, I play my own Roxie, in my own way, and made a decision to find my own character. So it’s going to feel really strange when it’s over, I’ll wonder where my family has gone, because there are 50 of us on tour who basically live together and it’s really good fun.”

Any time off is currently spent lying on her mum’s sofa down the road. “On Sundays I need to catch up and I’m getting obsessed with girly things like fabric conditioner, scented candles and pyjamas. It’s the little things you miss when you live out of a suitcase.”

But come mid-December, Ali will be able to wallow in girlie heaven: “and maybe a little holiday,” she sighs, “and then, when I’ve had a rest and caught up, I’ll think about what’s round the corner, and then who knows what I’ll do. All I know is I live to perform and like to mix things up and do different things. But in the meantime, l’ll be spending some time in my PJs with my scented candles,” she smiles.

* Ali Bastion, above, stars in Chicago at Oxford’s New Theatre from November 5-10. Call the box office on 0844 8713020 or see
atgtickets.com/oxford