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Entertainment

'Charity' still sweet

A Stage West veteran takes the lead in a show that demands a triple threat.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN
Published February 25, 2005

The musical Sweet Charity is the tale of a New York taxi dancer named Charity Hope Valentine, whose relentlessly upbeat attitude suggests the first half of the show's title, "sweet."

The show was created for the inimitable Gwen Verdon and brought to the movie screen by another one-of-a-kind, Shirley MacClain. It's often called a "star vehicle" because the success of the show depends on having a triple-threat actor - one who can sing, dance and act with equal ease - in the title role.

The version opening Thursday at Stage West Community Playhouse stars Stage West veteran Toni Berlinger, whose previous credits include being a Red Rat dancer in Jekyll & Hyde and Maude in Funny Girl. This is her first lead role at Stage West.

In it, Charity hangs out at the Fan-Dango Ballroom with the other dime-a-dance girls - Carmen (Jessica Nicole), Helene (Wahnita Dow) and Nickie (Julie Hackler) - who are always on the lookout for their dream guys.

The dancers pop their gum and call out to prospects, high-kicking to Hey, Big Spender as they hope for big tips and maybe a future with a nice fellow.

Charity stumbles into her first big romance with an Italian movie star named Vittorio (Michael Benson, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors), who is using her for his own reasons even as she falls head over heels in love with him and his high-toned ways, which sets the scene for the song If My Friends Could See Me Now.

Her second love is the straight-laced Oscar Lindquist (Doug Doidge, Wazir in Kismet), who appears to be exactly what she's looking for: someone who simply adores sweet Charity.

Before and during all that, the show has big dance numbers and heartbreaking twists and turns. Even so, Charity keeps up her spirits and lives up to her name.

There are about 30 people in the cast, according to the show's production coordinator, Paulette Hess. The choreographer is Joyce Lang, who won a HAMI award for her dance numbers in 2004's Funny Girl and choreographed Gypsy in 1999 and Babes in Toyland in 1998.

The music director is Danielle Flury, who also held that post for Kismet.

WHAT: Sweet Charity.

WHERE: Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill.

WHEN: Thursday and weekends through March 20. Shows are at 8 p.m., excepts Sundays at 2 p.m.

TICKETS: $16, reserved seating. Box office is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and an hour before each performance. Call (352) 683-5113.

[Last modified February 25, 2005, 00:52:18]