The Regals Sweet Charity

A very good performance at Kogarah
Here's what I thought for Sydney Arts Guide 
http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1088
For all you cool cats The Regals Musical Society has brought us the ironically bittersweet production of ‘Sweet Charity’, the optimistic ,cautionary tale of Charity Hope Valentine, a girl who just wants to be loved.

The classic tale of a fallen call girl with a golden heart, Charity seeks love. She is the hope that we may meet our true love in this strange world. She is the ‘charity’ that we offer when we take the risk and let our guard down and allow ourselves to know love and trust the fickle-finger–of-fate characters that come in to our lives. She is the ‘valentine’ we all wish for, someone who is compassionate, funny, loving brimming and full of life, and possibly scared of heights and commitment.

Set in New York in 1968 the show is really now a classic ‘period piece’ and could be quite dated, but here, with the right zingy cast, it still works wonderfully.

Director Ste Casimiro has a great cast to work with. The huge production numbers (especially ‘Rhythm of Life’ and the various dances at the Pompeii club (‘Rich Man’s Frug’ )as well as ‘There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This’) are marvelously handled. For a couple of the big numbers the cast are in the aisles, rippling through audience.

The trademark classic Fosse choreography, as recreated by Casimiro and Nalty, oozes and sizzles, exploding into exuberant life especially in ‘Big Spender’, (tawdry yet exciting) ,’There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This ‘ and the exultant ‘Rhythm of Life’ (oh yeah man), full of the Fosse dramatic hands, snapping fingers , the writhing sculptural masses and angular poses. Brilliant showbiz! The orchestra, under Kane Wheatley, was excellent. For this production they are squashed onto the tiny stage sort of as if they are the band at the Fan-dango ballroom .There were minimal sets and props and most effective use of cgi (for example the fireworks at Coney Island , the scene indicators).

Jessica Shanks in the eponymous role of Charity Hope Valentine (as played by Shirley McLaine  and Nancye Hayes amongst others)  is amazing, singing and dancing up a storm .With her petite ,elfin blonde bob  and dazzling performance she steals our hearts. As a downtrodden ‘dancehall hostess’ she tries to find something better for her life. Does she find it in the end? You will have to see the show to find out!.

As famous film star Vittorio Vidal, swanky and narcissistic, Claudio Acosta has a whale of a time hamming it up and deliciously oozing false ‘Latin lover’ charisma .His aristocratic sex kitten girl friend Ursula March wafting around in mink and pearls , thoroughly catty, is delightfully played by Christie New.

As tall, hulking, rather nerdy ‘goofball’ Oscar Lindquist ,Julian Batchelor is very good and has a fine voice but is rather unexciting I am afraid.

As Charity’s friend Nickie, Lauren Nalty, a fabulous dancer, smoulders, pulling out all the stops .Helene, Charity’s other friend , is wonderfully danced and played by Charisse Graber.

Flower power cult revivalist Mamma Brubeck of the Rhythm of Life Church (Virginia Natoli) brings the house down in Act 2 .

Overall a most impressive, very enjoyable production, featuring great lead performances .I am looking forward to THE HATPIN in October. On a cute, but most distracting note, I will end with a mention of the toddler who was right at the front in the audience and was absolutely entranced by the show , dancing around and almost getting on stage to join in.

With a running time of 2 hours, 30 minutes with one interval, Regals Musical Society's production of SWEET CHARITY (book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields), played the St George Auditorium Kogarah between the 15th and 19th May, 2012.

© Lynne Lancaster

Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- SWEET CHARITY, Regals Musical Society, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster.