sweet charity

[maybethistime]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 9:35pm

has anyone seen the show on its way to broadway? anylinks to pictures/sound clips? anyone know when the official site will actually be worth anything? im know im gonna be obsessed...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 9:37pm

I have not seen it, but I know when it arrives in NY...I am there! I hope they've really reworked it well. I would like to see a darker "Charity."

[magruder]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 9:39pm

Really? It's pretty depressing as it is. If they go darker with it, I think I may just have to slit my wrists.

[timote316]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 9:49pm

I plan to see it when it comes to Boston

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 9:59pm

Well, "Cabaret" is a very dark story, too. But, the revival made it more darker. Not, story wise...just the way it was performed. They didn't "pretty it up" with glitz. The lights were darker and the set was simpler. I don't mean that that's how they should do "Charity," but it would be nice to make it a little more adult, if you understand what I'm trying to say. Having a little trouble putting it into words.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 10:45pm

I'm seeing the world premier of Sweet Charity in Chicago. Woo, I already got my ticket (even though its not till this coming summer).

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 12/8/04 at 10:54pm

I can't wait to see it when it comes to Broadway.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 3:52am

Sweet Charity - Bob Fosse + Wayne Cilento =

Margo Not Looking Forward To Sweet Charity

Updated On: 12/9/04 at 03:52 AM

[magruder]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 7:34am

Contrary to public belief, Cabaret was always a dark show. The revival took it further, of course, but the old version of the material does cover the same territory, perhaps just not as bluntly.

Because she keeps getting knocked down throughout the show as one man after another mistreats her, I don't think I could handle a "darker" Charity. It's a very sad show in a very good natured package.

[timote316]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 9:17am

By looking at the website, you could never tell its a dark show... Its all pink and bubbly (literally, there are bubbles) and Christina Applegate is sucking (rather provacatively, actually) on a straw...
Official Sweet Charity site

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 10:52am

No one has seen it yet as it hasn't played anywhere. I've got my ticket for the Chicago premiere (it was actually the reason I sprung for season tickets). I'm really looking forward to it. True, Cilento's no Fosse, but I did like his work on Tommy. The could have retained the original choreography, but hopefully, we'll get something new and fresh that won't suck. I've never been a huge fan of the show, so my expectations won't be high to begin with.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:04am

The 'dark' version of SWEET CHARITY exists...it's known as the movie. Shirley MacLaine is such a heartbreakingly truthful actress that you felt every pang of pain she went through. It's a tough go.

The revival in '86 was quite wonderful. Debbie Allen (accused by some of being miscast) was quite a gifted comedienne, which makes this story told in this setting palatable.

Go too dark with this story and you destroy it, unlike CABARET. After all, CHARITY ends with her living 'hopefully ever after.' CABARET ends in a death camp.

[magruder]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:09am

Yeah, somehow taking Sweet Charity out of the cartoon New York of the musical's physical production, and putting it on the actual streets of New York just made it a pretty tough little film, as much as I love it. I agree wholeheartedly about MacLaine's performance, and watching her face when Oscar breaks up with her is devastating. Couple that with the isolation of "Where Am I Going?" and that really terrific but hearbreaking scene Peter Stone added in the employment office, and it's just lump-in-your-throat time.

[robbiej]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:14am

That employment office scene freaking KILLED me!!!

Ya know, people talk about SWEET CHARITY being a bad movie. I don't believe it is at all. It took away the save remove that the stage production had and is far closer in spirit to CABIRIA.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:14am

I've got tickets for the premiere in Minneapolis. I'm curious to see how "set" the show will be for the opening, and whether or not it's going to be tweaked before it gets to NYC. I saw the pre-Broadway run of Victor/Victoria here and it ended up with several major changes by the time it got to Broadway. Also saw pre-Broadway Lion King and Grease revival but those shows went to NYC more or less unchanged.

Minneapolis seems to be a popular place for out-of-town tryouts.

In any event, I'll post a review after I've seen the show. I'm not a huge fan of the show itself, but "Rich Man's Frug" is one of my all-time favorite Fosse moments, so it'll be strange to see the show done without those moves. And "Big Spender," for that matter. How can you do that number any differently from how it was originally done, on that bar? I'm hoping they don't tamper too much with it. Of course, Rob Marshall put his own stamp on CHICAGO, and I loved that, so we'll see.

Updated On: 12/9/04 at 11:14 AM

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:26am

This may be a dumb question, but does anyone know if Christina Applegate can sing or dance? Although she's a gifted comedic actress, I've never seen her do anything that would indicate talent in those other areas...

Updated On: 12/9/04 at 11:26 AM

[magruder]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:28am

I believe she studied dance for many years...not so sure about the singing, but a Charity can get by with a decent, not extraordinary voice if the pathos is there.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:29am

Very true---no one could ever say Gwen or Shirley had great voices.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:43am

Ms. Applegate beat out ALOT of heavy hitters (Marisa Tomeii, Jane Krakowski, and those are just the ones we know about) for the role...I'm optimistic. I hope it's a hit.
As for going "dark" with the show, I don't think any director would be so thick....it's a musical comedy, it's not CABIRIA..

Updated On: 12/9/04 at 11:43 AM

[magruder]

Posted: 12/9/04 at 11:47am

I just read in her IMDB bio that her father was a record producer and her mother was a singer-actress. So, chances are that she has at least SOME musicality.