GARRICK THEATRE

Great night out for: Girls' nights' out and couples. Naughty guys may want to hide during Cellblock Tango

Morning after effect: Doing jazz hands when waving down the bus

Recommend to friends: If you love the film, sexy vintage fashion and Ugly Betty, this is a dream come true!

Best bit: "They Both Reached For The Gun"

It is all about the jazz-hands. The longest-running revival musical in the West End has now moved venues three times since its inception in 1997, now residing at the Garrick Theatre.

That said, the biggest buzz surrounding the show has been the arrival of former Ugly Betty star America Ferrera in her West End debut, playing the role of celebrity-obsessed Roxie Hart. Here the tradition of a brunette Velma and blonde Roxie are reversed, presumably to accommodate Ferrara's natural dark-hair. Velma is portrayed with alternately sneering and comedic perfection by the icy blonde Amra Fay-Wright, who recently played her on Broadway.

The show moves at a brisk pace; being only two hours in length, it is shorter than most West End musicals. The gaps between the numbers were often limited to a minute or so of dialogue, especially in the case of "My Funny Hubby" and "Cellblock Tango", quite a difference from the film.

Ferrara, although not the strongest singer, excels in comic timing, no doubt honed during her tenure on Ugly Betty. Notable strong points came in "Both Reached for The Gun" as Billy Flynn's puppet, the Roxie solo "Everywhere" and her devious performance during the trial, where the dialogue ricochets between Roxie and Darius Campbell's Flynn - like bullets from a gun.

Campbell is unrecognisable from his awkward start on Pop Idol. Now a critically acclaimed baritone, he became the youngest actor ever to play the role of Billy Flynn in 2006. Having starred in other successful West End productions including Guys and Dolls and the popular Gone With The Wind, he is self-assured and fabulously slimy as the unscrupulous lawyer, overshadowing all but Ferrera during "Razzle Dazzle". When speaking his accent sometimes wavers between Chicago and the Deep South, but only a minor criticism.

Throughout the performance Ferrara plays to her comedic strengths, rather than her singing. As Ferrara is only playing until 31 December 2011, I highly recommend you see it; there certainly ain't nothin' Ugly with this Betty.

About the Garrick Theatre
Although a great theatre in terms of vocal acoustics, try aim for a seat in the Royal circle. In the stalls you will feel the underground trains rumbling directly under your feet which can sometimes distract from the action onstage.