Sweet Charity

I must start this report with sincere congratulations to the company of Sweet Charity. The temperature was well into the 80’s), there was an audience of only 50 people, but this small company gave a performance of 100% despite the circumstances, just as I have come to expect from talented and inventive CLOC.   This is one of the biggest dance shows in an amateur repertoire and the heat this cast withstood must have been incredible, I never saw anyone ‘wilt’ even for a moment.

I know Sweet Charity like an old friend, having directed it myself 3 years ago and I was still word perfect. I know the difficulties of set and staging, the complex crowd scenes and the problems of pace with the many changing scenes, but this production covered all these areas with ease.

The set was simple and inventive. Height at the back of the Fandango ballroom was used with effect in Coney Island and the Parachute Jump Chair, but was always smoothly transformed back to the ballroom. The minimal scenery assisted the pace. The lighting was effective and sound, was as always, very good. I was disappointed in the costumes; with a black set all the scenes needed colour. The music was excellent; a big sound from the band perfectly controlled by the MD. The dancing and routines worked very well considering the mix of company. Obviously some cast were dancers and some were movers and some were performers.  But there was inventiveness and talent here.

The director worked this small company very hard. There were lots of opportunity for members of the cast to undertake small roles and these were directed very well particularly in the opening scene. You were blessed with an outstanding ‘Charity’ in a cast of mixed ability. From the front this appeared to be a ‘low budget’ show and you used every bit of your expertise to make the story come alive with fun and excitement.

Charity Hope Valentine… Jules Ashton worked ‘her socks off’ in a bravura performance of this iconic role. An extremely talented singer, actor and dancer, she had every attribute to make this role her own and she stole the show exactly as she should…. an excellent performance, very well done. Helen and Nicky Anne Brock and Natalie Baker were beautifully cast as the extrovert, larger than life friends … Tarts with hearts. They acted, danced and sang their way through the show with assuredness and pizzazz. Oscar Lindquist… Jonny Broad, was very funny, the expected characteristics were all present… sometime so over the top that the lines became a little unclear. But this was a comic and immensely watchable performance… well done. Herman… an understated performance by John Sheppard until we came to Cry at Weddings,  you then came into your own with a good voice, good movement and great fun… well done. Vittorio Vidal ...  a professional and smooth performance from Jeff Prescott. Too Many Tomorrows was beautifully sung. All other minor principal roles were well performed and the company worked well and hard in performing many cameo roles. This was a very entertaining production with a minimal approach to many aspects of the show and the audience was well entertained.

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