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Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity was performed at the Co-Operative Arts Theatre in Nottingham between Monday 5th October and Saturday 10th October 1998.
Sweet Charity opened at the Palace Theatre New York on 29th January 1966. The show was to become the hottest ticket on Broadway running for over six hundred performances.
The story behind the musical begins with Bob Fosse attending a revival screening of the film Le Botte di Cabiria. Bob emerged from the film convinced that the story would make a great musical. The film won an Oscar in 1957 and was directed by Fedderico Fellini.
The story was of a young naive street-walker in Rome called Cabiria. This is how Fellini himself described the character:
"Cabiria is fragile, tended and unfortunate; after all that has happened to her, and after the collapse of her naive dream of love and life... In spite of everything Cabiria still carries in her heart a touch of grace... Anyone may be a Cabiria. That is, a victim."
Fosse had intended the reworking of the film to be the first half in a double bill of one-act musicals, and he wanted to make the musical as close to the film as he possibly could. This all changed, however, when Neil Simon was approached to write the book for Sweet Charity. It was Simon who decided to pad out the story to make Fellini's Roman street walker into a demure, but very dynamic American Dance hall hostess.
The lyrics were provided by Dorothy Field and Cy Coleman; Bob Fosse was to choreograph and direct the musical and, emulating the great Fellini, he cast his wife in the Cabiria role, as Charity. When it opened it could hardly fail: it had a gripping storyline and a book written by one of the greatest playwrights America had ever produced, plus the show was packed with memorable and enduring songs. Success on Broadway was virtually assured as soon as the show opened.
This was the last show by Beeston Operatic Society to be Produced by Michael Wright.
Scene 2 - Hostess Room of the "Fan-Dango" Ballroom
Scene 3 - "Fan-Dango" Ballroom
Scene 4 - New York Street and Canopy in front of the "Pompeii Club"
Scene 5 - Interior of the "Pompeii Club"
Scene 6 - Vittorio Vidal's Room
Scene 7 - The Hostess Room
Scene 8 - The 92nd Street "Y" Information Booth and Elevator
Scene 2 - Rhythm of Life Church
Scene 3 - 92nd Street
Scene 4 - Charity's Apartment
Scene 5 - Coney Islan
Scene 6 - "Fan Dango" Ballroom
Scene 7 - Times Square
Scene 8 - The Park
Scene 9 - "I'm a Brass Band"
Scene 10 - "Fan-Dango" Ballroom
Scene 11 - The Park
You Should See Yourself (Charity)
Hey Big Spender (Charity, Nickie, Helene & Girls)
Charity's Soliloquy (Charity)
Rich Man's Frug (Chorus)
If My Friends Could See Me Now (Charity)
Too Many Tomorrows (Vidal & Charity)
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This (Charity, Nickie & Helene)
Bravest Individual (Charity & Oscar)
Baby, Dreak Your Dream (Nickie & Helene)
Sweet Charity (Oscar & Chorus)
Where Am I Going (Charity)
I'm A Brass Band (Charity & Men)
I Love To Cry At Weddings (Herman, Nickie, Helene, Rosie & Chorus)
See Me Now (Full Company)
1st Woman - Ruth Maddison
2nd Woman - Anthea Hinchliffe
2nd Woman Panhandle - Anthea Hinchliffe
Assistant 1 - David Hargreaves
Assistant 2 - David Moore
Betsy - Julie Fremantle
Carmen - Val Sutton
Charity Hope Valentine - Carolyn Smith
Daddy Brubeck - Luis Ogando
Elaine - Jane Cottee
Frenchie - Sarah Badley
Helene - Jackie Rawling
Herman - John Maddison
Hostess - Carrie-Anne Corner
Hostess - Sarah Badley
Info Girl - Wenda Smith
Manfred - David Hargreaves
Married Man - David Hargreaves
Married Woman - Ruth Maddison
Nickie Pignatelli - Kate Richmond
Oscar Lindquist - Alan Richmond
Policeman - David Hargreaves
Policeman - David Moore
Rosie - Alison Lawrence
Suzanne - Carrie-Anne Corner
Ursula - Cheryl Mills
Vittorio Vidal - Rob Corner
Woman Panhandle - Wenda Smith
Woman With Hat - Wenda Smith
Guitar - Elizabeth Marsh
Percussion - Brian Rodwell
Piano/Keyboard - Nigel Binks
Reed - Chris Hopkinson, Owen Edwards, Peter Bullock
Trombone - Chris Edwards, Terry Tricker
Trumpet - Clive Parnell, Kevin Dye
Box Office - Jill Dawson, Margaret Lambert
Choreography - Phillipa Sutton
Chorus Master - John Maddison
Dance Captain - Shauna O'Conno
Front of House - Jill Dawson & Team
Make-up - Sandra & Team
Musical Director - Russ Singleton
Producer - Michael Wright
Prompt - Beryl Henson
Props - Lynn Hadfield
Rehearsal Pianist - Nigel Binks
Stage Crew - David Hinchliffe, Lynne Hinchliffe , Mark Lewis, Richard Phillips, Steve Martin
Stage Manager - Mike Caves
Wardrobe - Barbara Doughty
If you took part in this show and have memories to share or don't have a profile, and would like one, we'd love you to contact us.
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity was performed at the Co-Operative Arts Theatre in Nottingham between Monday 5th October and Saturday 10th October 1998.
Sweet Charity opened at the Palace Theatre New York on 29th January 1966. The show was to become the hottest ticket on Broadway running for over six hundred performances.
The story behind the musical begins with Bob Fosse attending a revival screening of the film Le Botte di Cabiria. Bob emerged from the film convinced that the story would make a great musical. The film won an Oscar in 1957 and was directed by Fedderico Fellini.
The story was of a young naive street-walker in Rome called Cabiria. This is how Fellini himself described the character:
"Cabiria is fragile, tended and unfortunate; after all that has happened to her, and after the collapse of her naive dream of love and life... In spite of everything Cabiria still carries in her heart a touch of grace... Anyone may be a Cabiria. That is, a victim."
Fosse had intended the reworking of the film to be the first half in a double bill of one-act musicals, and he wanted to make the musical as close to the film as he possibly could. This all changed, however, when Neil Simon was approached to write the book for Sweet Charity. It was Simon who decided to pad out the story to make Fellini's Roman street walker into a demure, but very dynamic American Dance hall hostess.
The lyrics were provided by Dorothy Field and Cy Coleman; Bob Fosse was to choreograph and direct the musical and, emulating the great Fellini, he cast his wife in the Cabiria role, as Charity. When it opened it could hardly fail: it had a gripping storyline and a book written by one of the greatest playwrights America had ever produced, plus the show was packed with memorable and enduring songs. Success on Broadway was virtually assured as soon as the show opened.
This was the last show by Beeston Operatic Society to be Produced by Michael Wright.
The Story of Sweet Charity
Charity works at a dance club and is often taken advantage of and shown the dark side of life through bad relationships. When she meets Oscar, it finally seems that romance is truly in the air, but in the end Oscar finds out Charity's past and refuses to marry her. Still, throughout it all, sweet Charity is hopeful and strong that someday her ideals will come true.Synopsis of Show
Act 1
Scene 1 - The Park by the LakeScene 2 - Hostess Room of the "Fan-Dango" Ballroom
Scene 3 - "Fan-Dango" Ballroom
Scene 4 - New York Street and Canopy in front of the "Pompeii Club"
Scene 5 - Interior of the "Pompeii Club"
Scene 6 - Vittorio Vidal's Room
Scene 7 - The Hostess Room
Scene 8 - The 92nd Street "Y" Information Booth and Elevator
Act 2
Scene 1 - The 92nd Street ElevatorScene 2 - Rhythm of Life Church
Scene 3 - 92nd Street
Scene 4 - Charity's Apartment
Scene 5 - Coney Islan
Scene 6 - "Fan Dango" Ballroom
Scene 7 - Times Square
Scene 8 - The Park
Scene 9 - "I'm a Brass Band"
Scene 10 - "Fan-Dango" Ballroom
Scene 11 - The Park
Musical Numbers
Act 1
OvertureYou Should See Yourself (Charity)
Hey Big Spender (Charity, Nickie, Helene & Girls)
Charity's Soliloquy (Charity)
Rich Man's Frug (Chorus)
If My Friends Could See Me Now (Charity)
Too Many Tomorrows (Vidal & Charity)
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This (Charity, Nickie & Helene)
Bravest Individual (Charity & Oscar)
Act 2
Rhythm of Life (Daddy Brubeck, Two Assistants & Chorus)Baby, Dreak Your Dream (Nickie & Helene)
Sweet Charity (Oscar & Chorus)
Where Am I Going (Charity)
I'm A Brass Band (Charity & Men)
I Love To Cry At Weddings (Herman, Nickie, Helene, Rosie & Chorus)
See Me Now (Full Company)
Photo Gallery
The Cast
1st Woman - Ruth Maddison2nd Woman - Anthea Hinchliffe
2nd Woman Panhandle - Anthea Hinchliffe
Assistant 1 - David Hargreaves
Assistant 2 - David Moore
Betsy - Julie Fremantle
Carmen - Val Sutton
Charity Hope Valentine - Carolyn Smith
Daddy Brubeck - Luis Ogando
Elaine - Jane Cottee
Frenchie - Sarah Badley
Helene - Jackie Rawling
Herman - John Maddison
Hostess - Carrie-Anne Corner
Hostess - Sarah Badley
Info Girl - Wenda Smith
Manfred - David Hargreaves
Married Man - David Hargreaves
Married Woman - Ruth Maddison
Nickie Pignatelli - Kate Richmond
Oscar Lindquist - Alan Richmond
Policeman - David Hargreaves
Policeman - David Moore
Rosie - Alison Lawrence
Suzanne - Carrie-Anne Corner
Ursula - Cheryl Mills
Vittorio Vidal - Rob Corner
Woman Panhandle - Wenda Smith
Woman With Hat - Wenda Smith
The Chorus
Alan Richmond, Alison Lawrence, Anthea Hinchliffe, Barbara Doughty, Bernard Gardner, Carolyn Smith, Carrie-Anne Corner, Cheryl Camm, Cheryl Mills, Claire Farrand, Colin Richmond, David Hargreaves, David Moore, Dorothy Woodall, Jackie Jones, Jackie Rawling, Jane Cottee, Jane Hough, John Maddison, Julie Freemantle, Kate Richmond, Kathlyn Phillips, Luis Ogando, Margaret Wright, Mollie Harwood, Nyree Griffin, Paul Lemon, Rob Corner, Roma Drinkwater, Ruth Maddison, Sarah Badley, Tracey Prosser, Val Sutton, Wenda SmithFan Dango Dancers
Carrie-Anne Corner, Jane Cottee, Julie Freemantle, Sarah Badley, Val SuttonThe Orchestra
Bass Guitar - Jeff WiddowsonGuitar - Elizabeth Marsh
Percussion - Brian Rodwell
Piano/Keyboard - Nigel Binks
Reed - Chris Hopkinson, Owen Edwards, Peter Bullock
Trombone - Chris Edwards, Terry Tricker
Trumpet - Clive Parnell, Kevin Dye
The Production Team
Assistant Musical Director - John MaddisonBox Office - Jill Dawson, Margaret Lambert
Choreography - Phillipa Sutton
Chorus Master - John Maddison
Dance Captain - Shauna O'Conno
Front of House - Jill Dawson & Team
Make-up - Sandra & Team
Musical Director - Russ Singleton
Producer - Michael Wright
Prompt - Beryl Henson
Props - Lynn Hadfield
Rehearsal Pianist - Nigel Binks
Stage Crew - David Hinchliffe, Lynne Hinchliffe , Mark Lewis, Richard Phillips, Steve Martin
Stage Manager - Mike Caves
Wardrobe - Barbara Doughty
If you took part in this show and have memories to share or don't have a profile, and would like one, we'd love you to contact us.
