Sweet Charity

Cy Coleman’s show with its brassy, confident musical score was his most successful and has a wealth of well-known songs in it. Although it is some time since I saw a production of ‘Sweet Charity’, as at present most societies seem to be opting for the more modern musicals, I enjoyed hearing all the wonderful songs again.

The two tiered stage set worked well and afforded attractive chorus groupings with the second level becoming part of the street once the curtains were pulled across the costumes hanging in the Fandango Ballroom.

The stage seemed rather large and empty at the beginning of the show and perhaps Charity could have been spotlighted and a smaller section of the stage used to introduce her. When the chorus came on in their various characters then the lights could have come up and encompassed the whole stage. Charity’s fall into the pond is a difficult event to stage and very often the fall is into the orchestra pit (when there is one!) I appreciate the fact that she couldn’t possibly emerge dripping with water but it’s a bit of a let-down when there is no sign of any water at all. A wet shoe at least would have helped make the scene more realistic.

In the title role, Katherine Winfield ‘s singing and acting were first rate and despite being a worldly, brash young woman she was also endearingly innocent. She experienced great highs and lows in her life and somehow coped with it all in good humour. ‘Sweet Charity’ is a one woman show and Katherine was that one woman.

As her shy boyfriend Oscar, Peter Bergin acted well and his singing was good. The wig he was wearing was far too obvious as such and a less full one would have looked much more natural on him.

Charity’s two jaded working girl friends from the Fandango Ballroom – Nikki and Helene - played by Heather Bokota and Lucy Morris respectively were securely played and their dancing was very good. I particularly enjoyed their ‘Baby Dream Your Dream’. Another good number was ‘There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This ‘which was bursting with energy.

‘Big Spender’ was super and also ‘Rhythm of Life’. Sam always gives a good performance but it somehow isn’t quite the same having a woman as Daddy Brubeck. Nevertheless she did a great job and put it across strongly.

Patrick Coad almost stole the show as Vittorio Vidal. His accent was most convincing and he played the role with style.

The love interest in his life was played with conviction by Eveey Ruth who must have been incredibly hot in the fake fur coat that she wore for most of the time she was on stage! The bedroom scene was very amusing with Charity in the wardrobe whilst Vittorio and Helene were on the bed.

Herman, the manager of the Fandango ballroom, was suitably seedy and Peter Howitt acquitted himself well in the role. I enjoyed ‘’I love to cry at weddings’ but unfortunately when the female singer joined him he couldn’t be heard despite the fact that they both had mikes. Her voice overpowered his.

The five men in the show certainly had their work cut out and I would imagine they thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play so many different characters.

Costumes were super. The black and white ones in the Pompeii Club for the Bob Fosse style routine, the Cheerleaders ones and of course the wonderful medley of 1960’s hippy ones -  all notable.

In the opening scene Charity wore a sleeveless Summer dress and then her boyfriend came on in a winter sheepskin coat which looked really odd.  Vittorio’s shoes needed a good polish and his trousers were rather too long as was Ursula’s dress. 

The cast coped with the two levels splendidly - they were up and down the steps frequently and confidently.

Lighting was particularly good - loved the blue lighting for the Fandango Ballroom - and sound was fine.

‘Sweet Charity’ has a lot of movement/dancing and the routines were clearly well-rehearsed. Lorraine’s and Phillipa’s choreography was good and apart from the rather sparse opening the direction by Tasha was good.

Dick kept the volume at the right level throughout the show and the sound was well –balanced.

Your programme contents are interesting and it’s easy to navigate. Did advertisements really look like that in the 1960s - it’s hard to believe it now!  I like the coloured photographs too. 

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