Sweet Charity - Preview
‘Sweet Charity’ is a musical for all the family, featuring prostitution, drugs and loads of scantily clad women. What more could any hot or otherwise blooded man from Imperial want? Get my meaning?
From 1960’s Broadway to London’s West End to our very own Union Concert Hall, this show is being brought to you courtesy of OpSoc and by the kind permission of Musicscope Ltd. Although I say it myself, we really have pulled out all the stops to make this production unmissable.
‘Sweet Charity’ tells the story of a young and extremely attractive dance-hall hostess looking for that elusive true love. Sadly, girls in her profession, however pure and innocent, just don’t tend to attract the sort of man who will offer her what she wants (well, love-wise, anyway). During her quest for true love, she embarks on liaisons with all sorts of dubious characters, from infamous film stars to random men in lifts. But somehow, she never seems to get anywhere, in a manner of speaking.
The story starts out by exploring Charity’s two-faced and unromantic ex-fiancee and the way in which he looks down upon her way of life. Her remorse at his rejection boosts her to look for a quick replacement. However, she learns the hard way that it never pays to be in a hurry in ‘affairs of the heart’. Not all her choices are ideal, as the story tells. Much of the plot focuses in on the dressing room of the Fandango Ball Room where Charity works. In particular, the attitudes of her two work colleagues and her boss towards her endless stream of relationship failures are scrutinised.
As in all good musicals, she eventually meets the man of her dreams who will sweep her off her feet and into a new partnership of happiness on the other side of New York - or will he? I’m afraid that you will just have to come and see the show to find out.
The show boasts many famous musical numbers including ‘Big Spender’ and ‘Rhythm of Life’. Everyone must have heard these at some point in their life, probably in some dodgy Parisian cabaret act. Under the excellent guidance of our esteemed musical director, Guy Middlemiss, they have been great fun to rehearse. Getting involved in the acting and dancing has proved no difficulty either under the directorship of Matthew Soane. Julie Partridge and Sarah Moltoni have choreographed the show.
As you can probably guess by now, a saucy story line, catchy tunes and funky choreography, not to mention enthusiastic performers, stage hands etc. promise to make this production a stormer. So come and see us in the Union Concert Hall every evening at 7.30 p.m. between 4th and 8th February.
Vicky Swerling and Julia Harries
