#1
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
mlowry@star-telegram.com
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
mlowry@star-telegram.com
