Sweet Charity

This story was originally written as a film about a dancer for hire in New York. Written specifically for a top-grade star, the story revolves around this character, with them rarely leaving the stage. The glitz and poverty of the areas in New York create a strong contrast for the main character to play within. Hence, the central character must to be versatile and energetic, as well as having stage presence and acting ability.

This production was excellent in both the staging and in the strength of the cast. The direction of the show created a production that was slick and effective. I very much liked the repeated process as customers came into the dance hall, which was then varied according to the scene. The set changes were well organised and efficient, some using a black curtain as a screen, and the links between scenes worked well. Hence continuity of the story line was very smooth. The ending came as a surprise to me!

The scenery was creative, with the opening set comprised a wrought iron style screen with steps and platforms each side of an archway and red lighting. Later scenes in the clubs and bars were very well portrayed, with a nice feeling of glamour and sleaziness. The dressing rooms scenes with full-length mirrors worked very well, while the under-bridge church and Coney Island scenes were very enjoyable. The scene progressions were helpfully noted on screens above the proscenium arch, such as telling us in which nightclub the scene was set.

Lighting was very creative, with good use of follow-spots and lighting strips in various colours. The sound was good, although at times the vocals sounded a little harsh. The balance of vocals with the music group was very good, with the musical director giving great energy and pathos to the various musical numbers.

The costumes were lovely! The mix of ladies in hats and men in baseball kit was really good. The grouchy Herman totally looked the part as the dance hall manager, while Ursula’s rich costumes beautifully reflected her status and character. However, it was the attention to detail in the other costumes, hairstyles and accessories that lifted this production to a high level.

The choreography was good, although some seemed to have copied the strange moves in the ‘Aloof’ nightclub in the film version. However, the solo dance at the beginning was beautifully arranged and performed, as were the couples dancing in the Fandango Ballroom. Perhaps ‘Big Spender’ could have used more energy in the moves at times, as it is such a well-known song that needs a big presentation. The dance with the collapsible hat was very nicely done, while the dance for ‘I love to cry at weddings’ was very entertaining.

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