Sweet Charity,

Wycombe Swan


WITH the American musical Sweet Charity, the New Penny Theatre company successfully launched itself in Buckinghamshire, a welcome addition to the amateur companies already in High Wycombe.

Its production, musical and choreographic standards were very high. The principals were generally strong, and the chorus - whether singing, dancing or taking smaller roles - was excellent.

As Charity, the dancehall hostess striving to quit her treadmill, Jessica Dawes rightly dominated the show and much of its success is down to her. She elicited sympathy and amusement in turn as her attempts invariably failed.

To their credit, Jenny Dewar and Emma Southorn registered strongly as her colleagues, Helene and Nicki, as also did Anthony Harrison as Oscar, the introvert she met in a broken down elevator. Antonis Petrou-Amerikanos was miscast as film star Vidal, but ever-welcome Mark Bolkonsky made the most of the dance hall proprietor.

What then of the 1966 musical itself? Well, it is not one of the 'greats'. At its worst, it is superficial Broadway 'show-biz', with the spoken dialogue often far too lengthy. Indeed Act 1 dragged considerably. But Cy Coleman's swinging sixties score is full of memorable numbers, particularly the splendidly sleazy Hey, Big Spender and the effervescent If My Friends Could See Me Now.

It also deserves a bonus for some subtle social comment and for daring to forego the usual show-biz happy ending, still fairly audacious for its time.

The enthusiastic audience loved it - a happy omen for New Penny.

Reviewed by Stan Meares