Walking into the hidden gem that is Theatre@41 last night, I had extremely limited knowledge of the musical Sweet Charity, albeit, I am almost grateful I did – as if there’s one company who can give you the best first experience of a show, it’s York Stage.
As soon as you enter the theatre you are met with glitter, glamour and decorative hearts at every turn, transforming this small theatre on Monkgate into the perfect backdrop for Valentine’s Day.
This set the scene flawlessly for this production of the musical first conceived by Bob Fosse – following the romantic trials and tribulations of the overly optimistic Charity Hope Valentine, who only ever wanted to love and be loved in return.
Sweet Charity is at Theatre@41 from Tuesday 14 to Sunday 19 February.
If you have ever seen a York Stage production and your eyes have been drawn to an animated, enthusiastic performer – then chances are you’ve witnessed the fantastic Katie Melia.
This week she takes her well-deserved place in the spotlight as the charismatic, happy-go-lucky leading lady Charity herself – and I can only offer her the utmost praise and admiration for a stunning portrayal that she and the entire company should feel proud of.
One distinct highlight of Melia’s performance was the brilliant ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’, where not only did she present her usual stunning vocals but accompanied them with a complex and perfectly performed tap number. That number alone made this show a must-see!
Each and every individual gave their heart and soul to their performance and brought a professional standard to Theatre@41. Emily Ramsden and Carly Morton took on the roles of the despairing dance hall hostesses Nickie and Helene. Their duet ‘Baby Dream Your Dream’ was sensational and their voices blended perfectly.
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There are two main men highlighted through Charity’s story, the turbulent Oscar Lindquist performed by Stuart Piper and the charming Italian film star Vittorio Vidal portrayed by Jack Hopper.
Jack’s rendition of ‘Too Many Tomorrow’s’ was the perfect calm in the midst of the chaos of this production. Speaking of chaos: I must highlight the brilliant James Robert Ball as Daddy Brubek who brought a wild start to act two. Emerging in something you would only find at a Harry Styles concert, you couldn’t help but laugh out loud at his excellent performance and character commitment.
Danielle Hill is responsible for the sensational choreography that was the backbone of this show – including many much-loved Fosse-inspired numbers. You can tell the cast worked exceptionally hard to deliver this tight, perfectly-synched, high-standard of dance.
Alongside director Nick Briggs, Danielle has yet again helped create another memorable offering from York Stage.
A mention must go to the phenomenal band Sam Johnson (keys 2/saxophones), José Canha (bass), Jez Smith (drums) and their fantastic musical director/keys 1/violinist Jessica Viner, who led them fantastically. There was not a single note out of tune or time, and I felt they supplied a West End standard of accompaniment.
This was especially highlighted during the transitions, as their musical interludes helped distract us from some untidy scene changes. It isn’t a simple task to find the perfect sound balance in a smaller venue such as this, therefore credit must be given to the technical team for their brilliant work throughout.
If you would like somewhere to go this week that will bring you first-class entertainment, jaw-dropping choreography and a leading lady to be in awe of, then Sweet Charity at Theatre@41 is most definitely for you.
Tickets for Sweet Charity start at £16 and are available via the Theatre@41 website.