Rounding off Pospero Arts’ 2025 Concert Series complete with a 16-piece live band, Sweet Charity leaps onto the stage, capturing hearts with big numbers, strong casting and a bit of the old razzle dazzle.
Partnering with QPAC, Brisbane’s Prospero Arts (The Wizard of Oz, Jersey Boys, Singin’ in the Rain) is deftly directed and choreographed by Cameron Mitchell.Â
Originally staged on Broadway in 1966, Sweet Charity was written by Neil Somon, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and original choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse.
Loren Hunter (SIX the Musical, The Lovers) stars as the titular Charity Hope Valentine, a ‘girl who just wants to be loved’. The story follows her hopelessly romantic highs and lows, set against the backdrop of New York City during the swinging sixties.
As Charity searches for her ‘hopefully ever after’ the musical explores themes of resilience, hope, class and gender roles, all the while keeping the audience guessing as to where Charity will end up.
Joining Hunter on stage are a supporting cast of Australian film and theatre favourites, including Simone Burke (WICKED, Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as Vittorio, Jake Speer (Home and Away) as Oscar, Kristina McNamara (Chicago) as Nickie, Angelina Thomson (West Side Story) as Helene, Suzanna Steele (Annie) as Ursula and Sean Sinclair (Hamilton) as Daddy.
Sweet Charity: eternal optimist
In a role made famous on screen by Shirley McLaine, Hunter charms as eternal optimist Charity, bringing her to life with charisma and skill, seamlessly carrying the production through some of its more whacky scenes. Bold and brassy yet always sweet, Charity is a role that any musical theatre star would love to play.
Charity works as a hostess at the Fandango Ballroom, a dingy dance hall, and several of the big numbers take place within its walls. McNamara and Thomson carry these scenes with humour and heart, and we feel for the girls left working there for eternity.
Humorous interludes are delivered throughout, with standout comedic performances delivered by Burke, Steele and Sinclair, supported by a stellar ensemble.
Sweet Charity: big hits
The biggest hits are some of the high points of the production, with the tight ensemble delivering on Rhythm of Life, Big Spender and If My Friends Could See Me Now. Mitchell’s choreography captures the original Fosse flair right from the start.
In an interesting move, the production is semi-staged, with reduced sets and lighting compared to the staging of a traditional musical. This moves the focus to the bones of the story, and allows for the vocals and dance abilities of the cast and ensemble to take centre stage.
The orchestra does not miss a beat under the musical direction of Micahel Tyack, and audience members will appreciate the experience of seeing a live band handling the score with aplomb. The background set is projected onto the back of the stage, cleverly capturing the style of a 1960s Broadway musical.
The production stays true to its roots, meeting expectations rather than offering a fresh new take on 1960s class and gender roles, which could have been an interesting and fresh update. Nonetheless, Sweet Charity is sure to charm musical theatre lovers with its equal parts of heartbreak and hope.
