Sweet Charity - YES!

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 2:34am

'Charity' leaves audience smiling
By MARK LOWRY
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

PAIGE DAVIS DALLAS -- Cy Coleman's Sweet Charity is not considered a musical milestone of the 20th century, but I defy anyone who sees a first-rate production not to leave with a big ol' smile.

Many grinning people were filing out of the Fair Park Music Hall, where a more-entertaining-than-it-should-be touring production is playing for two weeks. Directed by Scott Faris and based on the 2005 Broadway revival, it's the best touring show to hit North Texas this summer.

The 1966 work, which boasts a smart book and lyrics (by Neil Simon and Dorothy Fields, respectively), is based on Fellini's film Nights of Cabiria, about an unlucky-in-love prostitute who finds love in an unlikely candidate. The musical is bigger on characters than spectacle, and some of the best songs (Too Many Tomorrows and Where Am I Going) are not typical showstoppers.

In the musical, Charity Hope Valentine is a dance hall hostess, played by Paige Davis, best known as the former host of Trading Spaces. Davis handles the vocals and dancing nicely and finds some of her own quirky sensibilities. She might be a little too refined to explain Charity's constant bad luck. Still, it's an admirable performance.

But watch out for the incredible Guy Atkins as Oscar, the accountant Charity meets when they're stuck in an elevator together. That scene alone is worth the price of admission, thanks to Atkins' physical comedy abilities and believably adorable neurotic behavior.

Sweet Charity

8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Fair Park Music Hall, 909 First Ave., Dallas

$11-$69

817-467-2787 or 214-631-2787; www.dallassummermusicals.org

Be advised: Short dresses and sexy gyrating, but nothing you can't see at the mall.

Runtime: Two hours, 45 minutes with one intermission.

Best reason to go: Aside from Atkins' performance, the choreography.

Mark Lowry, 817-390-7747
[e-mail]

[WellIfYouInsist]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 2:44am

Are you the guy who asked if rights for The Beauty and the Beast were available even though there have been a plethora of regional/high school productions in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro?

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 2:45am

No. Sorry, you've obviously mistaken me for someone else.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 3:25am

Do you personally want to come over and throw stones at me???
Seriously - lighten up! I admitted that my post was a mistake! I'm only 20. It turns out that the tour I had forgotten about was several years ago. Would YOU want to see Beauty & the Beast at the theatre I mentioned? The stage is about the size of your living room.
Feel free - it opens next weekend.
Hey, I know it's all a misunderstanding. We can just be friends, okay?
So - What about Sweet Charity? Ever seen it?
Paige Davis was GR8 in it last night. AND the DANCING was down right awesome.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 3:28am

Find your damn XANADU.

[Sleeth1]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 4:09am

Actually I have not interest in Xanadu... and what finding my own Xanadu could possibly mean is beyond me. Have some more Coke, dude!

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/4/07 at 4:28pm

I would rather see Sweet Charity, than the production of Camelot they have planned for next season.