CANBERRA Theatre staff are in a state of excitement with news that a triple Helpmann Award Winning production of the musical “Sweet Charity” is coming in February next year, proclaiming “the return of smash-hit professional musicals for the Nation’s Capital.”
Photo by Kurt Sneddon
You can hardly say we’ve been starved of musicals, with “Legally Blonde” behind us and ”Sunset Boulevard” and “La Cage aux Folles” coming up, as well as big Canberra productions of “Mary Poppins”, “Evita” and a stadium production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” by an independent local group scheduled for 2014.
But this production of “Sweet Charity” at Hayes Theatre C, they say, opened to rave reviews and standing ovations in February, then went on to score Helpmanns for Best Female Actor in a Musical for Verity Hunt Ballard, Best Direction of a Musical for Dean Bryant and Best Choreography in a Musical for Andrew Hallsworth.
Director of Canberra Theatre Centre Bruce Carmichael is enthusing that having such an acclaimed musical come to town is a huge deal for Canberra. “This is going to be one of the biggest show-stopping musicals we’ve seen here in recent years. I am so pleased we’re able to host such an acclaimed production that audiences would normally have to travel to Sydney or Melbourne for, right here in Canberra. It’s going to be a fantastic way to start off the theatre’s 50th birthday year and I can’t wait!”
And Lisa Campbell of Luckiest Productions says, “The magic that was created by the cast and creative team rightly caused a sensation, and we were immediately determined to bring this magical experience to a wider audience. We are thrilled to be able to present the show again.”
“Sweet Charity” is directed by Bryant, with musical direction by Andrew Worboys and choreography by Andrew Hallsworth.
The cast is headed up by Hunt-Ballard, who played Mary Poppins in the 2011 Disney and Cameron Mackintosh touring production. Other cast members include Martin Crewes, Debora Krizak. Kuki Tipoki, Rowena Vilar, Xander Ellis, Francesca O’Donnell, Jakob Ambrose and Sean Matthew Moore.
You know the story. Charity Hope Valentine is the eternal optimist, putting her at odds with her co-workers in a seedy, run-down dance hall. Dancing with man after man to pay her rent, she dreams of finally being whisked out of there and rescued by love. Ever better, you know the songs, like “Big Spender,” and “”The Rhythm of Life”, to name two.
In short, it’s a musical for connoisseurs of musicals.
“Sweet Charity”, at Canberra Playhouse from February 11-22, 2015, bookings open on September 15 to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
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