Sweet Charity -BOSTON REVIEWS

[DAME]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 2:04am

Here is the first one I found. OY.

SweetCharlotte

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 4:05am

The Globe likes D'Amboise and O'Hare, but asks about the production:

"But what it all adds up to, ultimately, is a question that no one actor's performance can answer: 'Why revive this show, and why today?" You'd like to think that a show comes back because it can give us something new -- even if it's just a new way of looking at something old. But it's hard to know just what 'Sweet Charity," with its uneasy attitude toward its characters and its uncertain working out of their fates, has to tell us now."
Boston Globe

[honeyhoney]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 7:47am

AW........... I had such high hopes for this one! Oh well!!!

[orion59]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 8:13am

That review seems to echo the sentiments of everyone I know who has seen it. Not only does the show fail to give us something new, it can't even successfully recreate the old. It's unfortunate because, in the right hands, this may have been a very good revival.
I was supposed to go see it this weekend but ended up giving my tickets away after hearing just how dull this production is.

[Glinda's Candy]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 8:34am

I was going to get tickets, but I don't think I'll bother...
X

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 9:29am

Well, I still think the music sounds glorious, and some of the choreography is fantastic. I'm going to catch it one more time this weekend.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 9:32am

I haven't seen it but I sure would never let some negative reviews or bad comments prevent me from doing so. If I want to see a show I go and make up my own mind.

I love the music too and that's one of the reasons I cannot wait to see it.

QM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 9:51am

I just really wonder about the fate of this production. With reviews like those and without a box office draw, this show seems destined to flop in New York.

Maybe they should just go on tour and try to go back to Fosse's vision of it. The whole idea of trying to open on Broadway before the Tony deadline is kind of a moot point, if the show isn't Tony quality.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:26am

I'm reallly not surprised with those reviews. This show still needs work, but its not looking good.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:29am

Any idea what the NY box office take is so far? What is the advance? Based on these reviews, the backstage drama and if the advance is low, producers truly may cut their losses on the road.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:31am

a) i told you the reviews would be here.
b) the show needs a new director, because waltar bobbie ain't helping it.
c) i think christina applegate's performance would have altared people's views of the overall production towards a more positive note. and since it will be going into new york with bad karma surrounding it, one can't wait for what's going to happen with the critics who are probably waiting to devour it.

[loganp37]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:31am

It's still a preview, right? Give the show time. The lead has only known this role for a very short time. I think the show will edit/change things between now and it's Broadway opening.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 10:31 AM

[LaCageAuxFollesFan]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:50am

Memo to Fran & Barry: CUT YOUR LOSSES NOW! The production has got nothing but low-grade reviews since it's previewed in 3 cities across the country, and you would think and hope by the third one things would be fixed instead of the state of upheavel this show has had surrounding it for the last 3 yrs. Either the biggest miracle of all miracle will happen and this show will miraculaously fix itself OR the better option in my opinion is WAIT and don't be in such a god damn hurry to get the show in NY before Tony cutoff time and give us a GOOD product, instead of a shotty one that will get trashed (what a marvel idea).

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 10:55am

I'm sorry folks. Attentive Board readers will know I have been questioning why the producers thought they would make money by reviving this clunker.
I am saddened that it seems to remain a flop. I was hoping they would rework the dreadful book, the pretentious chorgeography and perhaps add some songs from the Cy Coleman treasure chest.
Again, there are folks here a bit annoyed that I have said this over and over. But, SWEET CHARITY was never a good show, never did well with critics, never did well at the box office.
What a sad waste of time, money and talent. P.S. To poster MICHAEL BENNETT,-- going back to the "Fosse vision" of the show will not help. The 1980s revival was Fosse's and it did as poorly as his original production.
The only highlight this show ever had was the HEY BIG SPENDER number. Apparently in the original production, Gwen Verdon was her usual great self and kept the show running a while.
However, the reality has always been that SWEET CHARITY is a turkey, complete with stuffing,... but sadly has no gravy or sweet potatoes.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:02am

" The 1980s revival was Fosse's and it did as poorly as his original production. "

WishIhadatony;
I want to correct you since that statement is wrong. The Sweet Charity revival a few yeas ago was well recieved and a big hit while its original star stayed in it. I know.. I was a intern with that production. And I love this show ( Like many, many, many people do).. and I still hope they get it together.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:28am

Logan -- I've held out hope that the show would pull it together for New York as well, but its disheartening to discover that with three preview cities under their belt, and with numerous changes, the current creative team doesn't seem to have a clear handle on what needs to be done to get the show up to speed.

True, they have the entire New York preview period, but they've also had weeks out of town and apparently are no closer to being on track then after the very first public performance!

I have to say, however, that I have seen an "archival video" of Applegate in the role, and I thought she was adorable. It'd still be worth it for me, for the show to open in NYC if she could do opening night.
Updated On: 3/24/05 at 11:28 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:44am

Well, here's my prediction: either the show will "indefinitely postpone" the move to Broadway, or it will do so with D'Amboise instead of Applegate.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 11:49am

Well, the Weissler's have already said D'Amboise would open the show on Broadway, baring some miracle recovery by Applegate.

But I'm sure they were hoping that D'Amboise's Boston reviews would have been a little more gregarious.

The quote:

"Charlotte D'Amboise is doing pretty well" -- BOSTON GLOBE

doesn't exactly fuel the "Cinderella" story they were going for...
Updated On: 3/24/05 at 11:49 AM

[NBC]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:20pm

I'm going up to Boston to see it on Sunday...I was hoping they'd kick the choreography up a notch or two, to match what Charlotte can do, but it doesn't sound like that has happened. Oh well.

And Dame, I need to hear all of your reminiscences on the 1986 revival. Thanks.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:27pm

DAME, sorry, you are mistaken. The Debbie Allen revival of SWEET CHARITY lost money and closed shortly after Ann Reinking replaced Allen. Allen herself, was not particulary well received. Her Tony nomination was very generous. Allen was divine in RAISIN, her most delightful Broadway performance to date. The CHARITY revival highlights were the performances of Bebe Neuwirth and Michael Rupert (they both got Tonys for this dreary show.)

Additionally, critic wise, the show received negative to mixed reviews at best, as did the original production. The reviews and box office failures of the original CHARITY and its 1980s revival are easily accessible on the internet, or in one of Susskind's books of theater reviews.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:27 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 12:38pm

I think what DAME is trying to say, and what I have heard elsewhere, that as long as Debbie Allen was in the production, the show made back its investment in terms of weekley numbers. Maybe after Ann Reinking took over the show folded in the red, but there definitely was enough interest in the revival upon its opening to hire a replacement when Debbie Allen left...
Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:38 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 1:22pm

The show is definately due for a grand revival and I dont' think it should be banned forever. I think they have a great leading lady and feel that the direction is where the weakness is.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/24/05 at 1:24pm

But Princeton, do you think this is the revival that should open in NYC in less then a month?