Sweet Charity

Curve's Studio space is home to National Youth Music Theatre's production of Sweet Charity until Saturday 22nd August. A huge cast of incredibly talented (and young!) actors/singers/dancers swamped the stage with enthusiastic performances. Every single one of the actors can easily go on to a career in musical theatre, if that is their aim.

Sweet Charity is the story of Charity Hope Valentine, the eternally optimistic, uneducated dance hall hostess who desperately wants to marry someone, anyone who can take her away from the flea-bitten hell hole that is only half a step up from a cat house. Her story takes her form the bottom of the pile to, well, several rungs up the ladder. Playing the title role is local actor Jade Johnson,a powerhouse performer who easily takes ownership of the character. This 18 year old has a great future on the stage. Amongst the other stand out performances in this show is 17 year old Stuart Thompson as Herman, the club owner, a sleazy comical man who finally shows his emotional side with an hilarious rendition of 'I always cry at weddings'.

Backing up the onstage cast is a live band/orchestra of equally talented musicians, again an amazingly talented bunch of youngsters ranging from 13 to 22.

While Sweet Charity, the film, has long been a favourite musical of mine this is the first time I have been lucky enough to catch it live on stage. Staged with an adaptable 'wire frame' set incorporating Curve's very own 'dancing stairway' this colourful show with its many many costume changes is a feast for the eyes and ears and will leave you exiting the theatre with several very hummable tunes ear worming you for days.

© Paul Towers 2015