Debbie Allen as Sweet Charity — Page 2

I saw Allen in the role and remember her as being this incredibly tireless, energetic little dynamo on stage -- the sheer amount of energy she expended with all of those countless high kicks and spins was stunning to watch. She was an alternately sassy and kooky Charity -- she didn't hard sell the character's vulnerability and you always had a sense that ultimately she could take care of herself if she had to (she was more a person who made dumb choices than the girl with her heart perpetually on her sleeve). Her singing voice was rather thin, though, especially next to the stronger and harder edged vocals of Neuwirth and Allison Williams. I seem to remember the settings often being rather minimal with Fosse using as much of the vast, uncluttered expanse of the stage as he could to show off his dazzling choreography. The production was most memorable for the comedic performances of Neuwirth and Rupert and the virtuouso dancing from Allen and the ensemble. The entire experience was truly in a completely different class from the recent flat-footed and misbegotten revival by Cilento with Applegate.

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Updated On: 3/29/07 at 09:38 PM

Was Big River really that bad?

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For the film, "My Personal Property" replaced "You Should See Yourself". "Charity's Soliloquy" took place in the Fan Dango Ballroom dressing room and lead into the exterior of the Pompeii Club fight scene between Vittorio and Ursula -- it wasn't Charity's first song/number.

Okay...and since you're ALL twisting my arm (and pointing that loaded revolver to my forehead), I'll be posting on that unmentionable site, footage of Donna McKechnie in the 1987 National Tour of SWEET CHARITY, and some great rehearsal footage of Gwen refreshing Debbie's memory with the "If My Friends Could See Me Now" choreography for that 1998 Actor's Fund Benefit Concert.

Hopefully some scene transitions from Bob Fosse's 80's revival makes it into the footage so you can see it.

I agree that Debbie Allen was really terrific in "Sweet Charity." I saw it several times with her and she always surprised me at how great she was in this role. She and Michael Rupert had fantastic chemistry.

I saw this on the 4th of July in fact. She was ok, definately didn't adapt to the fosse style at all. As someone mentioned she was a very likeable Charity, but other than that she was pretty unremarkable.

The whole production was professional without being exciting in any way. But you know for a half price ticket back in the 80's with a bunch of friends it was a nice way to spend the evening.

I "majorly crushed" on Michael in that show, as well, robbiej.

...and I just KNEW I'd never marry a Broadway stage.


...or something like that.

YEAH.

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Pre conceived ideas of an actor in a part can be very surpising.

I saw Gwen Verdon in the original Charity and thought that no one... no one else could ever do that role. I was 10 and in love. I saw a few other productions but no one held a candle to Gwen Verdon. Until....

I went to the Debbie Allen revival thinking she was too stong to play Charity but Debbie Allen proved quite the actress-entertainer- dancer in the part. It absolutely worked. I remember Bob and Gwen discussing how are we gonna make this tough
broad (Debbie) vulnerable and sweet? Somehow they did; she did and it was definitely a triumphant Charity.

I went back to see Anne Reinking in the role I anticipated nothing but shear joy
with Reinking in the role. I was a fan of Reinking witnessing Pippin, Over Here, Goodtime Charlie and the movie All That Jazz. The result was a cartoon abortion of Chartiy Hope Valentine in a ridiculous blonde wig. It was appallingly bad,
appalingly unbelievable and I left at intermission. It was honestly one of the low points in musical theatre. Amazing how one misquided actor can ruin a musical.

Being a glutton for punishment, I have also witnessed other Charities over the years, At the advanced age of 12, I dragged my parents to see Gretchen Wyler in Sweet Charity. That was total miscasting as Wyler was neither vulnerable nor up to the dancing demands of the part. She was 100% push; 0% charm; 0% vulnerability. After witnessing her braggadocio and rather large ego in the film Broadway-the Golden Years, I see why she was so miscast. Wyler needed to play bitchy agresssive parts and nothing else.

Another major surprise of pre-concieved notions was Tyne Daly in Gypsy. I thought how can a non singing TV star do anything with Mama Rose. Boy was I wrong. She totally blew the roof off the role and I was rooting for this character liked I hadn't routed in the theatre since Gwen's Charity.

I don't know how Applegate or Ringwald faired but I wasn't feeling masochistic those years, so I opted out. Althought, I find the Applegate recording charming.

So much for preconcieved notions. An actor is only as good as his current role.

Sharing more of the wealth here.

This is from the 1987 National Tour. Lenora Nemetz played Nikkie and Stephanie Pope played Helene.

Love reading these thoughts. Man I wish someone would (as against the point as this is I know) restage a Fosse show with his original staging and tour it nowadays--if THIS were the current Sweet Charity tour I'd literally travela long distance to catch it--but of course a huge part of my love of musical theatre is a fascination with the great classic productions, etc (I do get the argument that shows shoudl be re-iinterpretated, etc, and I think usually there's room for both though I think Charity is one of those shows SOO connected to its original staging, it doesn't work otherwise. I just saw on Youtube the revivals take on Rich Man's Frug... WTF? Though even a more talented choreographer than Wayne would have trouble restagining such an iconic dance).

The fact that ANYONE would think Anne Reinking would work as Charity though is something...

E

didn't realize there was a spelling police on board.

Ann with an e or no e.. she was abysmal.

Those are some clips.

Gwen Verdon. Oh Gwen. I don't think it's humanly possible that anybody will ever be able to perform like her again.

But I REALLY want to see Ann Reinking as Charity. People say it was so bad, I just have to see it.

"But in retrospect--having seen the Applegate embarrassment--it was a thrillingly staged revival, although it was still too close to the 1960s for it to feel "retro." The taxi-dancer concept and the "Mod" stuff seemed dated. "

To be fair the taxi dancer stuff, as many critics pointed out, was very dated in 1966=67 as well

Brody those are fantastic clips--thanks so much!