Back from Charity/Question about the ending

[Feathah]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:37pm

A lot has been posted about this show so I'll keep my comments brief.

In short, I LOVED it. Christina must be on the road to recovery because there was no visible limping. Yes, she still has the boots on. She danced quite a lot during the rooftop scene and Brass Band. And I don't understand the negativity towards Denis O'Hare - I thought he was brilliantly funny and strange.

(SPOILER)
It was clear that most of the audience tonight was unfamiliar with the show's ending and were expecting Oscar and Charity to marry at the end. Going into it I knew Charity ends up alone. But from what I have read there have been many different endings in various productions.

What was the original production's ending like? Are there past productions that had a traditional happy ending? Personally, I liked this ending - she ends up alone but picks herself up and you get the sense she's going to okay this time.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:41pm

I've heard that the OBC' and possibly even the first revival *am i wrong in thinking this is the second revival? cuz I could be* had them end up together..and if I'm not mistaken even some of the previews *up to the first few in chicago i think..i saw it here and it was the ending it is now* also had this ending.. I think it was changed during the chicago run.

I could be wrong though! :)

[Feathah]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 11:55pm

I wonder if the ending is set in stone. I got the impression that most of the audience was disappointed with the ending as they left. I wouldn't be surprised if they went with the happier ending.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 12:52am

I hope they leave it alone...
Dennis' confession is a great moment in live theatre. The entire audience winced in unison all three times that I saw this production. I think you're sugarcoating an already sugarcoated show if they leave the happy ending....

[wildcat]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 11:50am

In the original, they didn't end up together. Oscar pushed her back in the lake and ran away, Charity pulled herself out and was suddenly visited by a Fairy Godmother who told her that all her dreams would come true next Sunday night at 8 o'clock (or something). Charity was thrilled, not realising the woman was promoting a new TV series called "The Fairy Godmother".
Updated On: 5/1/05 at 11:50 AM

[G]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 1:45pm

I'm glad they didn't make it a happy ending. Keeps it real.

And who said negative things about Denis O'Hare, Feathah? I'm with you - that man is just amazing. The two times I've seen the show, he had the audience in the palm of his hands and every line worked. He steals every single scene in that show!
Updated On: 4/30/05 at 01:45 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 2:58pm

I said negative things about O'Hare. I find him utterly the same in everything he's done on stage, and I'm tired of it. He's slightly funny at points, but usually I was just irritated by his lack to hit correct notes. I just don't see the appeal behind him.

[musicgal04]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 3:18pm

I finally understand to whole Blue Fairy thing now...When I saw the show regionally I was really confused. I think it had something to do with the fact that the women who played the fairy seemed to be around in the entire show watching over Charity. I think she was a waitress at some point and she played Big Mama (as opposed to Big Daddy). It was just weird.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 4:00pm

There's a fairy? please explain...

[Feathah]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 11:18pm

A fairy promoting a TV show? Huh??

[apdarcey]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 11:22pm

munk, i feel that way about dennis and have a friend that i think the same about. he always plays the same in everything he does. and wouldn't you know it, he just played guiteau in a production of assassins.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:46am

They definitly need to keep the ending as it is, it lends an aura of gravitas to the show that it needs. I love how Charity pickls herself up afterward and keeps moving, making it in the end not so "all about getting a man"
As far as O'Hare, I haven't see his other characters but he seemed a little one note in this performance, he had the comedic side going really well, although he got annoying. He never had me convinced on the serious scenes though, I really thought he was joking when he said he wouldn't marry Charity.
The fairy thing just seems weird.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 1:21am

When Denis said the line about "other men", I actually did a double- take and thought he meant for himself.
And I'm very familiar with the show.
Other than that, I enjoyed his performance. I understand where you guys are coming from with the "he plays the same in everything" thing though.

[wildcat]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 4:24am

The "Fairy" ending wasn't so weird. It showed that Charity was still so hopeful and believed so powerfully in the 'magic' of love that she even bought the idea of having a fairy godmother looking after her. It was rather sweet. Of course, you have to believe that Charity is that naive from the beginning...

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:14am

Some weeks ago, Jonathan Frank posted an alternate ending of his own on "That OTHER Broadway Chat board".

In it Oscar shyly walks up to Charity by the park bench and says something like:
"You know...Charity....I was thinking long and hard about this. And I thought I kinda needed a drink to make things straight with me. So I stopped into this bar - the Stonewall Inn. I stayted there for a long time. Much longer than I expected. And I got things straight with me. Well, uh, not EXACTLY. I can't marry you Charity. I'm sorry. But I found me the kind of live I can live." and walks off.

Charity turns to the audience:
"Did ya ever have one of those days?"

Updated On: 5/1/05 at 09:14 AM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:55am

I loved the new ending...it isn't "happy" but it is hopeful..... A hopeful endign makes the show more about her misadventures then "omg poor charity she has been hurt"

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 11:14am

At no point in the Chicago run was there a happy ending with Charity and Oscar together. And I'm with munk on O'Hare. I saw him do the same quirky bits in Assassins and didn't feel he brought anything new to Oscar. I assume he was hilarious to those who had never seen him, but for me, he wasn't that funny since I had seen it all before.

MasterLcZ - In other words, in that alternate ending, they keep the fairy, but it turns out to be Oscar. Interesting...