SWEET CHARITY
Shenfield Operatic Society at Brentwood Theatre
08.06.10


For her directorial début with SOS Louise Byrne chose Cy Coleman's Sweet Charity, giving it a comic book feel, with publicity, programme and prologue presenting Charity's hopefully-ever-after story.
Gemma Hindley played the kookie tango palace hostess, who has to hold the stage by force of personality for much of the show. The flying finger of fate takes her from the seedy Fan-dango [run by pencil-moustached Herbie Hobbs] with its jaded girls, to the arms of a 'faded Romeo' movie star [David Pridige] and oh-so-close to wedded bliss with clumsy, caring Oscar [Bill Jaycock]. I liked what he did with the character, even if the accent and the notes were sometimes beyond him.
Kerry McGowan's ingenious choreography filled the awkward space with hoofers – the black and white Rich Man's Frug, the Rhythm of Life, the Brass Band. Set-wise, the New York skyline was effective, though it needed a deal of imagination to see the lake or the lift, and it would take more than a mirror ball to turn the flimsy set into the swish Pompeii Club.
I admired the synergy between Charity's co-workers Nickie and Helene [Gemma Nye and Katie Burchett], and I must mention the scene stealer of the evening, Manfred the gentleman's gentleman.
This is not a show that benefits from intimacy – distance would lend enchantment – and the long numbers challenged the pace and the energy of the company on the opening night. But the capacity audiences were assured of an enthusiastic and outgoing show, with the music well served by MD Ian Southgate and his backstage band.