ALTHOUGH you'd never have thought it possible back in the days when he was the perma-grinning front man of Scottish pop darlings Wet Wet Wet, Marti Pellow is superb as slimeball lawyer Billy Flynn in the super sassy stage musical Chicago. He's been a wow in the part in the West End, on Broadway and now at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre. So fasten your seat belts for this sensationally syncopated tale of murder, greed, violence, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery. It sounds good, it looks good and, though it's set in 1930s America, it delivers a timely satire on justice and celebrity. Chicago is at the Mayflower until Saturday (October 9) Telephone 023 8071 1811.

WRITTEN nearly 200 years ago by Mary Shelley when she was a mere 18-years-old, Frankenstein is possibly the world's greatest tale of horror and humanity. The latest stage production of this ultimate chiller, which explores the perils of trying to control nature, continues its run at The Nuffield Theatre at Southampton this week. Directed by Nuffield artistic director Patrick Sandford, it runs until Saturday (October 16). Theatre goers might also like to visit Shelley's grave in Bournemouth's St Peter's Churchyard. Telephone 023 8067 1771.

ACTOR turned playwright Simon Williams stars in his own latest comedy Nobody's Fool at Lighthouse at Poole next week. The play focuses on a TV journalist determined to scoop a major story when she discovers an extraordinary secret about the nation's favourite Queen of romantic fiction. Telephone 01202 685222.

ANOTHER classic is being staged at Salisbury Playhouse where in a co-production with Nottingham Playhouse they are presenting a new version of that great Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles. Adapted for the stage by Clive Francis, Conan Doyle's spine-tingling melodrama plays Salisbury until Saturday October 23. Telephone 01722 320333.

A COUPLE of Aussies quite literally tie themselves in knots in the name of the theatrical art that is The Puppetry of the Penis. Risking ridicule, pain and possibly blindness they contort their private parts into the shape of anything from the Loch Ness Monster to The Taj Mahal while hundreds of screaming women laugh themselves silly. If this is your idea of a fun night out get on down to the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Saturday (October 9). Telephone 0870 111 3000.

THE Reduced Shakespeare Company take the works of The Bard at full-tilt as they deliver every single Shakespeare play in just 97 minutes. Well their versions of them anyway. These crazy Americans play Bournemouth Pavilion on Tuesday October 12. Telephone 0870 111 3000.

FOURSIGHT Theatre being Greek tragedy to New Milton on Friday (October 8) when they stage their latest touring version of Euripides rarely performed classic Hecuba at the Forest Arts Centre. This tale of the Queen of Troy as a prisoner in the aftermath of war, mourning her slaughtered children as all around are consumed by bitterness, violence and revenge seems horrifyingly relevant to present day tragedies. Telephone 01425 612393

ROB Brydon brings his triumphant TV tragi-comedy The Keith Barret Show to the live stage at Salisbury City Hall on Friday (October 8). The character of hapless chauffeur Keith of course first found notoriety in the award winning comedy Marion and Geoff but went on to land his own award-winning talk show. On stage you can expect Wales' most famous divorcee to deliver the usual hilarious brand of downtrodden but positive humour. Telephone 01722 327676.

MUSIC:

VETERAN rock star Rod Stewart plays a rare gig at the Bournemouth International Centre tomorrow night. Fans from all over Britain snapped up the £60-a-head tickets in near record time. For the chance to see Stewart in such an intimate setting (a mere 3000 seats) is virtually unheard of these days. One of THE great stage performers the man who once many years ago was simply known as Rod The Mod is likely to perform material from throughout his lengthy career. Telephone 0870 111 3000.

PIONEERING rock 'n' roll bass player and one-time Shadow Jet Harris relives his own past in The Best of Me a tribute to Cliff Richard and The Shadows at The Tivoili Theatre in Wimborne on Saturday (October 9). Jimmy Jermain plays Cliff and The Shads are played by Jet, The Rapiers and one-time Shadows keyboards player Cliff Hall. Telephone 01202 885566.

THE Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conclude a series of concerts with their American principal conductor Marin Alsop at Southampton Guildhall on Friday (October8). The programme will be a repeat of concert they played at Lighthouse in Poole on Wednesday. It features Elgar's Cello Concerto played by guest soloist Alisa Weilerstein, Tchakovsky's Symphony No. 6 (The Pathetique) and the UK premiere performances of Collins' Tragic Overture.

THE BSO will be back at Poole on Wednesday October 13 when they play a concert featuring Tchaikovsky's Tempest Fantasy Overture, Smetana's Ma Vlast: Sarka Et Vltava and Brahms Piano Concerto No 1 performed by soloist Markus Groh. Conductor will be Cristian Mandeal. The orchestra perform the same programme at The Wyvern Theatre in Swindon the following night (Thursday October 14).

SIXTIES musical japesters The Barron Knights kick off the new autumn programme at the Regent centre in Christchurch on Friday (October 8) with their Bop 'till We Drop tour. The evening premises all the old favourites plus new material like the er Viagra Song. Telephone 01202 499148.

FIRST generation rock 'n' roller Joe Brown is back at The Regent Centre in Christchurch on Sunday with his band The Bruvvers. The ever-likeable multi-instrumentalist offers an eclectic evening featuring everything from rockabilly, gospel, country, folk to good old electric rock 'n' roll. Telephone 01202 499148.

THE Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra return to the Regent centre in Christchurch on Saturday (October 9). The 20 piece Big Band will be playing a selection of evergreen classics and hot new favourites. Telephone 01202 499148.

ACCLAIMED American jazz pianist Geri Allen takes on some of the leading lights of the Scottish music scene when she is special guest of drummer Tom Bancroft's Orchestro Interrupto at the Turner Sims Concert hall in Southampton on Saturday (October 9). Telephone 023 8059 5151.

CLASSIC blues singer Connie Lush is back at Mr Kyps in Lower Parkstone this evening. Tomorrow night sees the stage given over to tribute band T-Rextasy while next Thursday there's a gig by Jackie Leven, the hugely admired one time leader of Doll by Doll. The singer-songwriter and guitarist may be a Scotsman but the gig will be like a homecoming for Leven who has long held a place in his heart for Dorset. Telephone 01202 748945.