Journals, Review

CHARACTER

CAST

CHARITY.........Kristina Godfrey
HELENE  .........Sherry White
NICKIE  ...........Kate Botello
CARMEN .........Mary Moncel
ROSIE  .............Micha Thomas
SUZANNE  ......Katie Slenk
ELAINE  ......Jeanine Easterday
BETSY .............Cathy Tallman
FRENCHY  ..........Lesley Alicia Tye
HERMAN ........Jeff Buday
URSULA  MARCH........Meg Parker
VITTORIO  VIDAL.....Jamie Cox
OSCAR  LINDQUIST..........Brett Nichols
DADDY BRUBECK ......Dan Jablonski
CHARLIE.... George Spelvin
ALL OTHER PARTS inc. HOSTESSES & CHORUS & DANCERS
Anthony Ascione
Tony Lezon
Chelsea Wojes
Molly Guthrie
Gloria Thomas
Margaret Anne Slawson
Amanda Baltrip
Rebecca Walton
Hedges Macdonald
Emma Olson
Rebecca Walton
Cherie Van Maanen
Sheri Burford
Al Lien
Don Kuehlhorn
Production Staff
Director...Phil Murphy
Music Director ...Joe Rice
Vocal Directors...Tom Stokes, Andrea' Digregorio
Choreographers...Niky Girard, Tamara DePonio
Assistant Director...Denni Don Hunting
Producers...Andrea Geiger, Pat Kelsey, Sheri Wallace
Stage Manager...Dick Cieslik
Assistant Stage Manager... Karen Haspas
Set Design...Phil Murphy
Costume Design...Kathy Verstraete		 Stage Crew...Jeanie Gifford, Craig Jones, Robin Maloney
Thomas Webb, Geoff Wallace
Construction...Joe Rice, Dick Cieslik, Jeff Kroger, Al Lien,
Al Thompson, Thomas Webb
Set Painters..Elizabeth Stewart, Amy Roth, Toni Leaf,
Renee Warrick, Katie Slenk
Costume Assistants...Sharon Myers, Bobbie Hudson,
Jeanin Easterday, Dale George, Kerry Navabi
 Lighting Assistant...Sherry Burford
Light Crew/Spotlights...Deb Bowman, Denni Don Hunting, Cinder Conlon, Annaka Dodd, Kathy Ivany-Mort, Chris Wendel, Bryant I. Bancroft
Properties...BArb Goodearl, Dan Goodearl, Laurie Davison
Set Dresser...Kathy Ivany-Mort
Sound...Elizabeth Stewart, Gary Bolton
House Manager... Sheri Wallace
Rehearsal Pianists...Linda Davis, Steve Stargardt
Hair&Makeup...Karen Wittg, Linda Morris,
Erin Taylor, Alisa Curtis, Melissa Bean
Light Design...Don Kuehlhorn
Orchestra
KeyBoard... Kinda Davis, Cindi Robertson, Steve Stargardt
Violin...Natalie White, Katie Belnap
Bass...Will Ward
Flute...Sam Clark
Clarinet & Bass Clarinet...George Townsend, Raleigh Newman		 Clarinet & Alro Sax...Mark Hiller, Glenn Coghuenour
Tenor Sax & Flute...Jerry Leaf
Trumpet...Gene Roundtree, Jeff kroger
Trombone...Dan Stahl, Todd Oliver, Chris Mericle
Percussion...Andrew Bahle, Aaron Jaffe, Joe Erlewein, Jerry Endress

'Sweet Charity' is chorus of fun
by Richard Devinney
special to the Record-Eagle 

The Old Town Playhouse did 'Sweet Charity" Saturday night, and it was a wild and crazy show.

Can you rmember the last time you saw a stage heroine get pushed into a lake twice, stuck in an elevator, stuck in the Coney Island parachute jump and stuck in her date's closet as he entertains his fiance?

There were scenes in the Park by the Lake, the Fandango Ball Room, a New York Street,  The Pompeii Club, Vittorio's apartment (and closet), the 92nd St. "Y," the  Rhythm of Life Church, on the Subway, Coney Island, Times Square and Barney's Chile Hacienda.  That's a challenge for everybody -- directors, set producers, costume and prop designers, the orchestra and the 15 member cast, plus chorus.  The OTP troupe handles it all with splash and ingenuity and some really outstanding singing and dancing.

Kristina Godfrey (Charity) is in the center of almost every scene.  She plays Charity right down the middle, as both an eight year "experienced" floozy and charming, optomistic heroine.  Her singing voice works well for the part, and it comes with a big belt that she uses only when she needs it.  Saturday night her best singing was in the familiar "If My Friends Could See Me Now."

The story is about Charity Hope Valentine, a dance hall hostess who has thoughts about doing better things with her life.  But she is unlucky in love.  Her first lover, Charlie, grabs her purse and pushes her into the lake.  Her second, film star Vittorio Vidal (played very Italian by Jamie Cox), is just trying to make his mistress, Ursula, jealous.  Her third, accountant Oscar Lindquist, who loves her, breaks up with her because he is sure he won't be able to forget all the men she had entertained in her work.

Charity's two best friends, Helene (Sherry White) and Nickie (Kate Botello) are busy, too. Their duet, "Baby, Dream Your Dream," was very nice.  They have to lead a lot of the action and dancing, and they're good at it.  A highlight Saturday was a classy version of "Big Spender" by Helene, Nickie and the five other "dancers" in the club.

Brett Nichols, as Oscar, has the funniest bit of the night, when his claustrophobia attacks him in the elevator with Charity at the "Y."  Nichols can sing too.  His "Sweet Charity" was nicely done.  As the shy and scared hero, Oscar gently adds "sweet" to Charity's name in the only tender moment of the evening.
You'd expect a musical with Bob Fosse's stamp on it would end with a big, all-cast production number.  Instead, it ends with Charity by herself, just having lost Oscar, reflecting on her future and singing, "I'm the Bravest Individual I Know."

The ending probably costs the show a standing-ovation finish.  The audience doesn't know it's over until the whole cast comes out for a curtain call, and by then the moment is gone.  Saturday night, the folks probably would have been on their feet if they'd known.

This is another successful collaboration between director, Phil Murphy, and musical director, Joe Rice, who didn't compromise with his orchestra.  It has all the instruments needed, played by excellent, well-rehearsed musicians.  The elaborate choreography was by Niky Girard and Tamara  DePonio.  Vocal direction was by Tom  Stokes and Andrea DeGregorio.  Wonderful costume design was by Kathy Verstraete.

The show runs Thursdays thourgh Sundays until November, 25, except Thanksgiving Day.

Please note the currently planned music rehearsals below for Tom…Please let me and Tom know if there is a problem with the times…especially this Sunday…His email is the Cc above.

 

SWEET CHARITY:  Vocal Rehearsals w/ Tom Stokes

 

Rehearsals are scheduled at the alternate off-site rehearsal facility for Mon, Weds, and Thurs unless otherwise designated.  Rehearsals on Sundays and Tuesdays are at Tom Stokes’ condo (directions below).

 

Sundays:  Sept. 10, 17, 24 rehearsals held at Tom Stokes’ condo

3-4:30 pm          Charity #3, 9, 18, 21, 40

4:30-5:30pm      Charity + Nickie & Helene  #7, 22, 34, 38

 

Directions: 6265 Summit Ct. , 946-1953, condo is part of the Port of Mission condo complex. Go up Center Road past First Congregational Church, before Center Road has a huge curve to the left, the Port of Mission entrance is to the right on that curve (a blue sign is located at the entrance). When turning into the condo complex entrance go up a steep incline and take the first SHARP right turn. This will curve around and you'll see number signs by this road on the right (e.g. 6385, 6375). Turn into the 6263-65-67-69 drive and that's me.  Park where you can but not in front of someone’s garage.

 

Mondays:  Sept. 11, 18, 25

7-9 pm              Chorus # 13, 30, 31, 37, 46

 

Tuesdays:  Sept 12, 19, 26  rehearsals held at Tom Stokes’ condo

7-8:15 pm          Charity #3, 9, 18, 21, 40

8:15-9 pm          Oscar & Charity #25

 

Wednesdays:  Sept 13, 20

7-8:30 pm          Chorus # 13, 30, 31, 37, 46

8:30-9:15 pm     Nickie, Helene & girls #7; Helene & girls

#38; Charity & men #43

 

Wednesdays:  Sept 27

7-8:00 pm          Chorus songs

8:00-9:30           Sing through of show (leads memorized,

chorus maybe memorized).

 

Thursdays:  Sept 14, 21, 28

Possible Dance rehearsals or blocking rehearsals or “on call” as scheduled by Phil or choreographer.

 

NOTE:  Phil may schedule blocking rehearsals on nights you may not be rehearsing with a vocal director.  Be attentive to ALL schedules given you by the director, assistant director, choreographer, music director and vocal directors.  The pit orchestra starts rehearsals Sept 24 and the music director has scheduled some rehearsals for singers and orchestra in October.  Look for those opportunities!

 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, MUSIC MEMORIZED! 

 

I will develop a rehearsal cassette tape for any chorus member or lead who wishes that tool as an aid for learning their part.  Please let me know by Sept 13!  If you miss a rehearsal that wasn’t listed as one of your conflicts (barring emergencies) then you slow the rest of us up!  Please commit to your part and to your fellow actors and be present at all scheduled rehearsals.

 

FYI:  Tom's function is to make sure you know your parts and sing with appropriate vocal techniques.

Andrea's function is to work with interpretation, expression and meshing the acting with the singing (leads).  We will work together many times as vocal directors.

 

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