Watch out for . . .

Jim Carter (below left) and russell tovey (below right), who will join stars ian mcKellen and Helen mirren in director Bill Condon’s film the Good Liar, based on Nicholas Searle’s 2016 novel about a professional con artist (mcKellen) out to perform one last sting on a seemingly vulnerable lady (mirren). Carter has joined the cast as, well, why not call him an investment banker? tovey plays someone involved in similar, um, work. i vaguely recall Searle’s book being full of bluffs and double bluffs, so that you have to keep checking who, exactly, the victims are. Condon and mcKellen enjoy working together. i was on set when Condon directed the actor in mr Holmes and Beauty and the Beast. they first teamed up on Gods and monsters, which featured Lynn redgrave (she was nominated at the 1999 Oscars) and Brendan Fraser. Was that the last time Fraser was any good on screen? Filming on the Good Liar starts next month. SARAH SOETAERT, Josefina Gabrielle and Cuba Gooding Jr., who take top billing in the return of the musical Chicago at the Phoenix Theatre. Gooding is fun as razzledazzle lawyer Billy Flynn, but singing is not his strong point — though he makes up for it with chutzpah. But for me, it was Ruthie Henshall (below), as prison matron ‘Mama’ Morton, who stole the show. Ruthie has played both murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart in previous productions, but settled for matron this time around. And I missed her when she was off stage.