CONFESSION time – Gere, Zeta-Jones, Zellweger et al passed me, unreluctantly, by when they and their jazz hands trumpeted across the silver screen.

Permit me a moment of purist indignation, but musical theatre’s best seen, well, in the theatre.

And when the UK tour of Chicago opened in the Empire it was soon clear why. The show is sassy, classy and sexy.

Well, Emma Barton as brunette Roxie Hart and Twinnie-Lee Moore’s Velma Kelly quickened many a pulse.

But ladies, would Jimmy Osmond really be your first choice Billy Flynn? I’d wager not. Gere’s sexier, ditto Marti Pello.

Mercifully Osmond kept his double-breasted tuxedo on throughout – lest he outshone the company’s muscle-bound men, we presume.

I also half expected the man who’s sold 100m records to pull punches.

But that would be to casually forget Osmond – in front of a legion of his elder brothers – began performing aged just three.

And last night his pearly-whites lit up the Empire, much to wolf whistles and whooping in the auditorium.

His voice was silky smooth and note perfect.

He could have been meaner and didn’t dance much. It may be his dancing days are through, or it could have been the restrictive cut of that tux.

But an accomplished company filled the stage on his behalf, putting the Dazzle to his Razzle.

The supporting cast were superb throughout. Wendy-Lee Purdy’s jailhouse mother hen, Matron, and Adam Stafford’s pitiable husband, Amos Hart, delivered comedy and personality with both barrels.

The Queens of the show were undoubtedly Barton and Moore. The synergy both had with the 10-strong band ensured every high kick hit the right beat and no jazz-handed salute went without requisite razzamataz.

Both actresses clearly enjoyed plying their trade and puffed out the chests of their characters’ egos delightfully.

Musical director Garth Hall’s dancing ensemble were ramped up in front of the audience and were as much a part of the action and joy of the performance as the company.

Regardless of quibbles about Osmond vs. Gere as Flynn, the live act will always, and quite rightly, steel the show. Chicago’s about the spotlights and smoke of the stage. And is a must seen upclose.