Sweet Charity
Guest review by Nicola Forsdyke.
Last night, donning our mini skirts and plaid, it was time to swing into the sixties with Sweet Charity at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.
I wasn’t familiar with the show and there was an impressive crowd for a mid-week performance - not an empty seat in the house - but when the 15-piece band kicked off the performance, I understood why; the stage was set for a high-quality, high-energy production.
Set in 1960s New York, Sweet Charity is a musical comedy that will steal your heart. The story follows dancer, Charity Hope Valentine - an unlucky romantic who always falls for the wrong guy and longs to be whisked off her feet by a real gentleman.
With a New York skyline back drop, and pop art by Roy Fox Lichtenstein scattered above the stage, leading lady Emily Watt (Charity) truly has a place to shine and plays her part with devotion, charm, and a fantastic New York accent.
Meanwhile, other performers hold up comical speech bubbles throughout the show, bringing the crowd up to speed with a giggle, and a string of funny-yet-powerful songs are belted out, including the classic hit, ‘Big Spender’.
Giving ‘Chicago’ vibes, Sweet Charity is ideal for fans of jazzy, uplifting, female empowerment productions - particularly those who appreciate sharp choreography and iconic costumes.
The phenomenal choreography is thanks to award-winning Luke Berry (who also stars in the show), and is especially impressive during the black and white dance scene in Act One. Meanwhile, the costume designs are quirky, numerable, and oh-so sixties, thanks to the wardrobe team, Rachel Buckingham and Bridget Jackaman.
While the ending should perhaps be tweaked for present-day audiences to avoid shaming female sexuality, this could be easily overlooked due to the age of the show, which originally premiered on Broadway in 1966. Otherwise, this musical couldn’t not be faulted, with perfect humour, a talented cast, and plenty of really good music.
Indeed, it’s a shame that this musical isn’t the mainstream hit that it should be, because, from New York to Ipswich, we all just want to see Charity Hope Valentine fall in love for good someday.
On paper, Sweet Charity sounded a fun night out, but it was more than that. It had us tapping a foot, laughing out loud, and recommending the show to all of our friends.
The perfect something sweet for retro musical fans.
Sweet Charity is at New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich until July 13.
FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE