Sweet Charity at Royal Exchange Theatre
Andrew Anderson
Glitz, glamour, hustle and bustle – Sweet Charity distils the spirit of 60s New York and delivers it to the stage. A huge hit when it was first released in 1966, this new adaptation comes from the same creative team that put on the oh-so-successful Little Shop of Horrors at Royal Exchange Theatre a couple of years back (including director Derek Bond).
So what’s the story? Charity is a girl trying to make good on the mean streets of New York City. She’s a dancer with determination, but she has one downfall: she always falls for the wrong fella. That is, until she meets unassuming accountant Oscar and turns it all around…but will her happiness last?
I won’t give away the ending here, but even if you don’t know the story you know the songs: ‘Hey Big Spender’, ‘Rhythm of Life’ and ‘If They Could See Me Now’ are all hummable numbers that have had a life beyond the original musical. Add in some high-kicking new choreography from Aletta Collins and you’ve got an all round entertainment extravaganza.
