WHEN an actor spends two-and-a-half years in the same production, you can be pretty sure he loves the show. Cavin Cornwall has been playing Billy Flynn in Chicago for 30 months and it's now part of his life.

The other part is his wife, who is also his boss on the production side of the show. And then there's his three dogs... and his cat.

When I spoke to him, he was still reeling from a mind-bending two-week visit to China, where he had been performing in "a humungous place" that "seats 10,000 people".

After that, Woking's 1,500 will seem like small beer!

Chicago was a triumphant sell-out last year at the New Victoria theatre and it looks like it'll repeat that success this year.

It's a great show, and when I asked Cavin what his favourite musical was, he said: "It has to be this one. That's why I've stayed with it for so long. You never get bored with it.

"People come and see it time after time. The music is as good as it gets. And Billy Flynn is a dream role. 'A' list actors fight for the chance to play it.

"It's the best leading male role in the whole of musical theatre... except maybe Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls - I'd love to do that."

But back to Billy Flynn: "He's got bags of charm, but basically he's a shyster. A soft Shoe Shuffle Shyster.

"I must have a bit of the villain in me because I really relate to him.

"All I Care About is Love is so tongue-in-cheek. All he cares about is money and success. He's combative but really subtle with it.

"He's certainly a baddie, but he hides it under a smoothie exterior. Nasty roles are meatier. And I get to dance and sing and act, so it's pure enjoyment."

Cavin is very complimentary about his fellow artists, adding: "We've got a fabulous cast - gorgeous, talented girls and an Amos (Mr Cellophane) to die for.

"It's just a dream cast in a dream show."

Cavin isn't one of those actors who dislikes touring - he loves it.

"I've done my stint in the West End, but with touring I feel free," he says. "Getting the thrill of an opening night every two weeks gives me an adrenaline rush. I feed off it."

He must have done a bit of travelling as a teenager when he was England's junior karate champion.

But when Chicago erupts onto the stage, the Karate Kid in his black belt is transformed into the suave dinner-jacketed Billy Flynn, in a show which is glamorous, glitzy and gorgeous.

For three hours in Woking's New Victoria Theatre, winter will have disappeared.

Chicago runs until Saturday. Tickets, priced from £11.50, are available from the box office on 01483 545 900 or log on to www.theambassadors.com/woking for more information.