'Sweet Charity' at Musicals at Richter - My Review (Finally)

I thought I would have to miss the final adult musical of the season at Musicals at Richter, Sweet Charity, starring the multi-talented Lauren Nicole Sherwood. I had a ticket for a performance during their opening weekend and drove all the way to Danbury before I got the message that it was cancelled due to the weather. Then I heard that a special Sunday performance was added at the end of the run. I would like to think that it was added especially for me, but in truth it was so that community actors appearing in other shows would be able to catch the show.

Many of them did come out to support their fellow performers. I got to congratulate Luke Garrison on his amazing performance in Les Miserables I had seen the night before. The musical director of that same show, Dan Ringuette, came over to introduce himself before the show and George Alberts, who morphed himself into Thenardier, graciously came over at intermission to speak with me. Several other talented people that had appeared at Richter this season were also sprinkled throughout the audience.

Sweet Charity has a book by Neil Simon with music by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields. The show was co-directed and staged by the incomparable Donald Birely with Jeri Kansas as his co-director and choreographer. Richard F. Grasso was the Musical Director and conducted the small combo in the carport tent. Perhaps the best known songs from the show are "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and "Big Spender," but many more are included in the score.

The story is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria. Charity Hope Valentine who, despite her job at a seedy dime-a-dance joint, is an incurable optimist and quite unlucky in love. The story had some very funny parts, but some elements were a bit dated and somewhat disjointed for my taste. However, amazing dancing by Ms. Sherwood and the members of the ensemble that Ms. Kansas choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse was outstanding. "The Rich Man's Frug" was extremely stylized and I loved every minute of it. Ms. Sherwood always moves with such style and this performance was no exception; when I grow up I want to dance just like her.

This cast did a fine job with the other elements of the show as well. Charity's coworkers were well-played by strong singer/dancers and Amber Mason was a tall Ursula with an Italian accent. Chuck Stango was a blustery Herman and had great chemistry with the wonderful Cat Heidel as Betsy; I just wished they both had more to do in their roles. Charity's almost beau Oscar Lindquist was played by Thomas J. Byrne (in his MAR debut) and it was hard not to like him. Of course, the talented Ms. Sherwood followed in the dance steps of Shirley McClain and Debbie Allan in the title role and brought Charity to life perfectly.

Costumes by Renee Purdy are always very good, but these were especially well-done and avoided being trashy for the dance hall girls. The wigs by Melinda Zupaniotis were, without exception, beautiful.

At the conclusion of the curtain call, Mr. Birely thanked the numerous people that made the amazing season at MAR happen. Everyone in the audience who had appeared on the Richter stage this summer took to the stage to sing "Auld Lang Syne." It was a fitting end to what has been for me an especially close relationship I have had with Richter this season under the stars. Thank you to Mr. Birely who has been especially nice to me throughout the process, Priscilla Squires (Publicity) who was ever helpful, Janice Gabriel for getting me started and all the other wonderful MAR people that I have met along the way.