✭Matinée Wednesday: Round Ten…
This is a first for Matinée Wednesday, a show that I’ve actually acted in! When I was a mere freshman at Garden City High School, Masquers, our drama club, produced Sweet Charity as the spring musical. Since I was only a freshman (and because I have an olive complexion) I landed the role of “Spanish Man.” Some of my best work, I’d say. And since @SimTilver was sleeping with the director, he was cast as the male lead, Oscar.
Our production was a lot of fun, and in many ways, I believe it turned out better than this production starring Christina Applegate, which was the second Broadway revival (2005). Sweet Charity was originally produced in 1966 and then again in 1986. If this twenty year trend continues, we should be expecting the third revival in 2026. But by then, I have a feeling that the girls of the “Fandango Ballroom” will have popped their last cork.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this revival with Applegate, having acted in the show I feel as though I held this production to the high standards which were set for us. When it came down to it, it was lackluster at best. The show only ran for 279 performances after Applegate practically begged producers to continue with their plans to bring the show to Broadway. Previews began in Chicago, where Aplegate broke her foot, and then moved on to Boston. Due to an initial lack of interest, the producers were not going to move ahead with their Broadway plans.
Regardless, they pushed ahead and the production managed three 2005 Tony nominations, one going to Christina Applegate for Best Actress in a Musical, and one for Best Revival of a Musical. It did not win any. I was surprised with how well Applegate did. She’s no singer, but she owned the role of Charity Hope Valentine, and let’s face it, she’s a pretty convincing hooker. Although an ephemeral production, it was a fun night at the theatre!
