Sweet Charity Sat. 7/16

[Brodybaby03]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 9:54am

I saw the show on Saturday night...it was my second time and I was ASTOUNDED!
I loved the show the first time around but it has just grown by leaps and bounds. Christina Applegate's voice has such strength and has so much more behind it now. When I first saw the show, right before opening, she had a lot of fear behind her voice and this time she was just SO ballsy. Charity's Soliloquy was incredible , so full of life and passion. Her dancing was incredible, she was an absolute STAR. "I'm the Bravest..." w/ Denis O'Hare, has got to be one of my favorite scenes and it was 100 times more funny than the last time, I couldn't believe it. Christina's comedic timing...her ability to improv was dead on! Denis O'Hare was INSANE, I had stomach cramps and was crying from his performance, it was hysterical. Dylis Croman went on as the Frug Dancer...she's been one of my favorite performers ever since FOSSE and I was so excited to see her perform a dance I know she is SO EXCEPTIONAL at. She was so sexy, and so sharp...I really can't understand why she's not the frug dancer all the time. Joyce Chittick was Nicki for Janine LaManna...I'm not a fan of Janine so this was perfect for me. Joyce Chittick slipped up one line but other than that, she NAILED it. Her voice was fantastic, very strong, and she still carried all of her ensemble work! Rob Bartlett is SO much better than Ernie Sabella, he's funny without being obnoxious and I don't feel like my ears are going to bleed when he's onstage. He has great timing and his relationship with all of the girls really works. Paul Schoeffler...WONDERFUL as always. His voice is so phenominal I wonder how he doesn't work MORE on B'way. I don't know if anyone's ever heard the Yeston/Kopit Phantom cast recording but Paul is Phillipe, he and I got to talk about it a little after the show...he couldn't believe I knew it was him but his voice is ridiculously distinct. While I HAVE to dislike Shannon Lewis because she's Marc Kudisch's girlfriend, I will say she is so good as Ursula...even if her accent is a little random. Her Chemistry w/ Paul Schoeffler is so much like an on-stage love affair in a foreign film...PERFECT for their character's in the show. They are so funny. Their dialogue was one of the best parts of the show. Christina broke my heart at the end of the show, she was fantastic. It was a really really great show, and they were about one row from being sold out so that was a good thing. I really hope this show continue a successful run. It's so good.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:58am

Great review. I'm so glad too hear Christina improved even more.

I just wish all the people who didn't like her at first - could check her out again.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:35pm

I find it amusing that now the reviews are that Christina has improved greatly - and her voice is so much better - now the bashers have nothing too say. haha.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:44pm

I saw the show on 7/14/05 and I disagree with most of what was written above. While I thoroughly enjoyed the show, Christina's voice did not have the stamina to make it through the show. Her voice was adequate enough in the first act of the show, but truly was disappointing during the second act. She was very breathy and had a hard time getting through the numbers.

For the rest of the show, I found Wayne Cilento’s choreography to be terrible. He could not decide if he wanted to do Fosse choreography or throw it all away and do his own, and what was on stage was a terrible mix of styles.

Walter Bobbie’s direction was ok. Not his best work but worked well enough for what he had to work with.

William Ivy Long’s costumes were awful at best. I am a huge fan of his work but these costumes looked like he ordered too many feathers and fabric from la cage and threw it on actors in this show. I was very unimpressed.

The rest of the cast was great, esp. the two other females. I was very impressed with how much they pulled off with what they had to work with. Also, Rob Bartlett (who I did not like in Little Shop) I was very impressed with and very entertaining. Dennis O’Hare was out that night, and I felt his understudy did a great job.

All in all a very fun night, but far from the best theatre I have ever experienced.

I will add one more thing that we waited at the stage door and Christina is the SWEETEST, nicest person imaginable! She stood at the stage door for about 45 minutes signing anything that was handed to her.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:48pm

What do you mean when you say "for what they had to work with"? You say this several times in you review (which I enjoyed reading, thank you!), but I don't understand what you mean by that.

They had the Sweet Charity book and Cy Coleman music. That's A LOT to work with!! Do you mean that they didn't do a good job, because the story and music were weak to you? Or something else?

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:53pm

Ok, I will elaborate a bit more.

Walter Bobbie’s direction was only ok because the choreography, and costumes, really constricted how much creativity he could have with the direction. I found the choreography to be so bad that it made his direction look worse.

Again, with the two other female leads. They pulled off so much with having terrible costumes, choreography, and such to work with. Yet, they were amazing! I just found that their costumes did not fit the time period, the fact they were prostitutes, etc etc. Again similarly with the choreography, it detracted so much from the show, yet these two performers shinned through it all. They definitely deserve more praise!

[justme2]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:58pm

Thanks for the clarification...I know what you mean by the costumes. I hated the pink Band costumes and found them distracting my attention from the number itself!

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:01pm

I also did not like the tie-dyed orange dress and found it very distracting from her wonderful performance.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:51pm

Their names are Janine LaManna and Kyra Da Costa. Janine has been a Broadway favorite for quite some time - but soon she is really going to explode, big things are in her future. Now Kyra - she is one rising star! She is going to have much success and she will become Broadway's next big thing - in time.

Anyway - there is no doubt that Christina's voice has improved.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:09pm

Well if Christina has gotten better then she was awful to begin with. She is not bad, but she is far from good right now. She did not have the energy or vocal power to get through the second act.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:15pm

She's not bad, it just doesn't come as natural to her as it does for most people on Broadway.

If she wasn't a "name" she wouldn't have a chance on Broadway.
Updated On: 7/18/05 at 03:15 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:16pm

But why do you think the role calls for a vocal powerhouse? (Bobby, that wasn't too you - I agree with your above post)

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:16pm

I never said she was bad but I said if she was worse then she is now then she was bad! She is adequate right now.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:19pm

I do not think she needs to be a vocal powerhouse, but Christina does not even have enough the vocal energy to finish a song. As I said above she was adequate but could be much better!

[Brodybaby03]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 4:25pm

I'm not sure that if she wasn't a name she'd have no career, because she as just as good a dancer as any of those women on the stage.
I do agree that Wayne Cilento' choreography is ....for lack of a better word...confused. HE doesn't know who he wants to be...himself or Fosse. And quite Frankly, he should have stuck with Fosse. "I'm a Brass Band" is embarassing to watch half the time. Not to mention...that entire cast is GORGEOUS and those horrible High School Band costumes make them all look fat.
And I forgot to mention how Amazing the ENTIRE cast was @ the stage door. Including Christina who picked up a 4 year old , brought her over the partition, held her and talked to her and got pictures....it was ADORABLE.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 4:45pm

I find it amusing that so many people are placing blame on different aspects of the show. I continue to hear about Christina's weak performance. Bobby Long's costumes. Wayne's choreography and Walter's lack of imaginative staging. I don't believe in placing blame on any single person. When all is said in done everyone answers to the director and the director answers to the producers. Do I like the costumes? Hell no! I know that Bobby is a brilliant costume designer but he was giving the producers and the director what they asked for. I've said time and time again that I found the choreography to be disgraceful to Bob Fosse's name but I certainly do not put full blame on Mr. Cilento. Once again, he gave the director and the producers what they wanted. I found Christina's talent to be rather lack luster for that role. She does a fine job with the scenes but it IS a musical and she doesn't have the vocal chops or the dance ability to play the role. Same story, don't blame her, she is working her @ss off. Anyone can see that. I look to the director and the producers. I ask them why. Why would you let this happen to this show? Why would you take something that was "perfect" and decide to drastically alter it in so many ways? IF it ain't broke why "fix" it? So, to make a long story short (too late) why use scapegoats when it is evident that everyone on the production team and cast is doing their job and producing the quality that was asked of them. Please do not misconstrue what I am saying. I found this CHARITY revival to be abysmal and it "made me vomit a little in my mouth" but I cannot help but question the powers that be.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 5:06pm

Yes of course we must always question the Weissler's decisions!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 5:09pm

Hey grizelda - I miss and love you.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:10pm

I have to agree with umgeoboy. Christina's performance sells. It's adequate. She does a well-enough job.

But, if she wasn't the household name that she's become thanks to MARRIED WITH CHILDREN and a bunch of other sitcoms and films, she'd never make it in the Broadway musical world. She is NOT a singer and there are far better women, Sutton being one, that could pull this role off astoundingly well.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:15pm

I'm sorry I could NEVER see Sutton as Charity.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:15pm

Thank you WonderBoy.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:26pm

Wonderboy - you should've just choreographed the show.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 11:54pm

I really liked the show.

I thought Christina did just fine. Perhaps I went on an exceptionally good night, but she wasn't dismal at all. Sure, her voice wasn't as brassy as other Broadway voices, but she sang the part correctly and she sang it well. Remember: the part was written for someone that didn't have a great voice!

The costumes were questionable at points, but I didn't think they detracted from the show. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I am eager to go back again. Updated On: 7/18/05 at 11:54 PM

Posted: 7/19/05 at 12:07am

ljay this is "too" you. You see what I did there? I used the adverb "too" when I should have used the preposition "to." Can you try and make that distinction for this old and cranky man. I'd be eternally grateful "too" you.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 12:13am

Having read Wondorboy's posts here and in other threads...I think he would have done a great job...he seems to know Fosse so well! And....he was able to have sessions with Gwen Verdon! I am jealous of his direct contact with greatness.

I still enjoyed the show, Cilento or not. Christina was great, and so was the ensemble. They sold the show to me, and to the others who are enjoying the performances as well.

It isn't the best show on Broadway, but it's FAR from the worst...