"Sweet Charity" in Birmingham, AL

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 11:42pm

I just got back from the show, and I was pleasantly suprised.

First off, I have to say that the set was beautiful. I can't remember exactly, but I thought that people were complaining about the set. I thought, for this production at least, it worked well. The elevator scene was one of the coolest things I've seen in the theater in awhile. Granted, all it did was raise up on a fork-lift type thing, but it was unexpected. It was a stunning production visually and it seemed really solid. As for the acting/singing...

Molly Ringwald was okay. She had her moments when she shined - the closet scene/ the elevator scene. But then there were moments that seemed a little "half-assed." It seems like she could have given more into the dancing. It was almost like watching a high school performer who was embarassed at being up there, so they were too shy to just give over to the given circumstances. But that said, I thought she did a great job. She seemed shaky in the begining, but she really isn't a bad actress at all. Her singing wasn't bad either. If she had a little more power behind her voice, she'd be great. The dancing is the part I had a problem with.

Guy Adkins as Oscar was just flat-out brillant. I didn't seen Dennis O'hare, so I have no one to compare him to, so I'm not sure if the comedic bits were the same, but he was hilarious. The way he just slid all over that tiny elevator was hilarious. His singing voice wasn't that great, but it didn't really need to be. I thought he was probably the shining star of the show.

The honorable mention goes to Amanda Watkins who played Nickie. I felt like she developed her character and committed to it throughout the entire show. Her character was funny because of the character, not neccisarily the lines. That's where I thought Francesca Harper (Helene) failed. I felt like she relied too heavily on "sex" to make her lines funny. That may be a fault in the directing, but I think if she developed more of a character and a relationship with the other characters, then her performance would have been better. The whole "boob-grab-bit-for-emphasis" only works for so many lines.

I thought the show as a whole was very strong. I didn't like the choreography. I know see what everyone was talking about when the show was on Broadway. It didn't seem to fit the music at all. There were times when it would click, but most of the time it didn't work for me. The "Big Spender" scene was so forced. It didn't work at all. It just seemed awkward. I'm not sure if it's suppose to be that drawn-out, but it was just agrivating. I wanted something to happen or it to build to something, and nothing came.

After watching the show, I want to see a darker version of Sweet Charity. I'm not sure it would entirely work, but I like the idea of this "dance hall" hostess living in New York who has horrible luck and finally finds this guy, and then he leaves too. It could be darker and dirtier. I mean, Charity has a really dirty job, and sleeps around, etc. I can see how you can play her as naive and whatnot, but I don't think she really is. That's why I said the set worked for this production. Molly Ringwald played Charity as a naive girl, which worked fine with the bubblegum/mod set design. (The couch bit was pretty funny also).

I'm curious to know your thoughts on the tour if you've seen it. The show is very strong both in score and book. I really enjoy it. I just wish they'd find a Charity who can sing the score, dance the choreography, and still make you slap your knee.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:12am

I saw both, but instead with Charlotte d'Amboise on Broadway so I obviously have an opinion over Molly Ringwald.

[FosseForever3]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:24pm

What did you think of Rich Man's Frug?

I haven't seen the show, but my good friend is the lead frug girl and I think she's a fantastic performer :)

Hmm interesting about wanting to see a darker Charity...I think the fact that she's so naive and full of spirit makes the audience feel for her that much more when her love life fails over and over again. If an actress played her too darkly and she was just this nasty, hard hearted hooker, I'm sure I would find her hilarious but wouldn't feel for her as much in the end.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:31pm

I think the show only works if it is brighter. Charity becomes just a dumb hooker when directed darkly.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:06pm

Not really make her darker, but the world around her. I'm not saying it would work at all, but I think it's an interesting choice since her chosen profession is pretty horrible. And they go to the rhytms of life church and stuff, and that could be taken further.

The "Frug" was okay. I was kind of bored honestly. I didn't feel like the dancing really went with the music. All the dancers were great, but I think it would be more interesting of it had some sort of social commentary on the "upper class."


And, randomly, Molly Ringwald came into my place of work to get something to drink. And this was just yesterday. I think it's odd that she's still in town considering the show closed here Sunday.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:14pm

I saw the show in Sacramento and thought the Rich Man's Frug was BRILLIANT! I must have watched the number 6 or 7 times (I was working there).

There were defiantly dancers who stood out in that number too. You can dance Fosse then you can DANCE Fosse. My favorite was the guy with the cigarette...shorter, and had the facial hair. He was fantastic! It wasn't just because I thought he was cute...some people just do the moves, but not him.

Best dance number I have seen since I Got Rhythm in Crazy For You.

Updated On: 3/8/07 at 03:14 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:17pm

Agreed, I thought he stood out too.

I thought it was a really classy production. With the painting lighting up and stuff. It was just well done.

Does anyone think Sutton would be great in this?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:31pm

I think the show only works if it is brighter. Charity becomes just a dumb hooker when directed darkly.

I agree. I'm one of the few that liked the bubble gum naiveté for the revival. I don't like the idea of the show being darker and Charity being specifically labeled as a hooker. If you want to see that just watch Fellini's Nights of Cabiria. Even the original production, based on the artwork, seems to have tried to make her look like a streetwalker.

The movie too is a bit darker and I just don't like that. The only thing the movie did right was to give us the brilliant alternate ending, which is now being used for this revival. For me, and I know I'm in the minority on this, but all things aside I enjoy the new interpretation much more than what I can gather from the original and I think it was a step in the right direction.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:40pm

But she IS a hooker. And, no offense to the hookers on this board, it's a dirty job. I think it's kind of dumb to whitewash it and make it all bright and cheerful. It's a dirty job.

I think the show can work both ways. The only problem I had with this version is that Charity didn't stand out. They put her in a red dress with everything else being variations on the color red. She should have popped and been the focul point, but she wasn't.

And not to dis Ms. Ringwald, but that dress did nothing for her figure. They should have redesigned the dress for her because it didn't play to her assets and only made her look more uncomfortable and frumpy.

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:45pm

Well I believe Molly is leaving the show soon. She's being replaced by Paige Davis who was in Chicago. I don't know exactly when she is leaving the tour but I think it is sometime soon.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:48pm

Oh no way. I'm glad they're keeping the show open. I think it's a strong show. The book - to be expected - is hilarious.

Did Dennis O'hare do all the gymnastics in the elevator on B'way?

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 3:59pm

"Well I believe Molly is leaving the show soon. She's being replaced by Paige Davis who was in Chicago. I don't know exactly when she is leaving the tour but I think it is sometime soon."

I haven't heard this. Do you have some kind of proof? If this is true, I hope she leaves before the end of April...

[Barnabus]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 8:03pm

The Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram announced yesterday that Paige would be taking over starting with the San Antonio leg of the tour in June (sorry, the link's gone now), and the Kansas City Star online wrote today that it would be Paige who came to town in July here: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/16853281.htm. Nothing on the official Sweet Charity tour site yet.

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 3/8/07 at 10:53pm

Yeah they just announced it recently and I live in Texas so I'm seeing Paige Davis. I know almost everybody hated her performance, but I really wanted to see Molly Ringwald in it.