Amanda Watkins as 'Sweet Charity'

[ckeaton]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 5:38pm

The 'Sweet Charity' tour is heading out of Rochester, NY tonight. I saw it and have to say I really liked it.

Molly Ringwald was sick, and for the weekend here understudy Amanda Watkins jumped into the red dress. Rumor has it the number of refunds requested was in the single digits. Unlike the rest of the audience, I was hoping for an understudy. I had heard things about Ms. Ringwald's performance, and wanted my first taste of 'Sweet Charity' to be free of stunt casting.

It is a difficult job to replace a headliner, especially in less theatre-savvy cities where many of the audience were there to see a celebrity in the flesh. After the audible sighs and groans when the announcement was made, Amanda won the audience in the first 10 minutes.

Overall the design of the show was very nice, and the majority of the performances were quite good. Amanda Watkins made the night though. Her strong dance, voice, and comedic skills made Charity a joy.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 5:57pm

If Amanda Watkins was playing Charity, then who was playing Nickie?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 6:52pm

Molly Ringwald, of course.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 6:56pm

Not sure how this tour is working their stand-bys and understudies but in the Fosse-directed productions of Sweet Charity (the original, revivals, and tours), Nickie was Charity's stand-by, the understudy for Nickie would cover for that role then.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 9:06pm

I'm seeing the tour in April and I've been praying to get an understudy for Charity!

[ckeaton]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 11:17pm

Kathryn Mowat Murphy was on as Nickie...
So it appears that the Nickie/Charity cover is still in place.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 1:48am

The Broadway cast didn't have the Nickie/Charity cover thing, but the Broadway cast had Charlotte D'Amboise! I'm seeing the tour in three weeks.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 3:19am

I wish I had an understudy.

[DryMartini]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 5:20pm

I love Amanda's voice. I saw her in a concert of new works a few years ago and really loved her.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 6:17pm

I saw the show twice and thought it was wonderful. I had no problems with Molly Ringwald in the title role, but would also love to have seen her understudy go on!

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 9:37pm

I know this thread is kind of old but... you say Amanda Watkins had good dance skills, does that mean that she used the original choreography rather than the watered down version they used for Molly Ringwald. I know sometimes they don't want the understudy to "upstage" the star.