Conversations with Ed Tracy
Appearing nightly… The story of a dance hall girl looking for love in all the wrong places is wrapped in a lush musical score, sassy dance numbers and a cast of characters who like the girls at Fandango Ballroom are caught in the flypaper of life. If you want to have fun, fun, fun, one of the sweetest Charity’s of all is appearing nightly at the Marriott Lincolnshire -- and her name is Anne Horak!
Rich legacy… Sweet Charity is the only musical conceived, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse that has a book by Neil Simon (adapting the screenplay for the Frederico Fellini film Nights of Cabiria), music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Field. The show has a rich legacy, debuting on Broadway in 1966 starring the beloved Gwen Verdon who had already created the roles of Lilo in ‘Can Can’, Lola in ‘Damn Yankees’, and a decade later, Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’. A revival in 1986 starred Bebe Newirth.
Lots of laughs… Charity Hope Valentine wants to be loved. She is a ‘social consultant’ at a dance hall, a sordid occupation from which she desperately wants to escape. Rejected and abandoned by her current boyfriend, Charity stumbles into a relationship that forces her to confront the truth of her existence, a decision that could certainly threaten her future with the new man in her life. Although Charity may be a bit misguided, she is genuinely truthful and wants to do the right thing. There are a lot of laughs along the way in this terrific production directed and choreographed by Alex Sanchez.
Multi-faceted gem… Anne Horak’s self-effacing performance is a force of nature bringing a Broadway-sized talent to the intimacy of Marriott’s stage. Harok delivers a multi-faceted singing, dancing, comic gem of a performance. Alex Goodrich’s hyper-active, uber-sensitive Oscar Lindquist falls head over heels in love with Charity. The two are perfectly cast in this highly-paced, finely-tuned production.
Explosive energy… The professional company is filled to the brim with talent. The commanding Adam Jacobs (Vittorio) delivers a stirring ‘Too Many Tomorrows’. Horak combines with Dani Spieler (Nickie) and NaTonia Monet (Helene) in the poignant ‘There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This’ while Spieler and Monet roll it out in ‘Baby Dream Your Dreams’. The explosive energy of Kenny Ingram (Daddy Brubeck) is on full display in the show-stopping number company number ‘The Rhythm of Life’. Sanchez and Assistant/Dance Captain Laura Savage’s choreography soars with the iconic ensemble dance numbers ‘Big Spender’ and ‘Rich Man’s Frug’, the classic Fosse-infused triplet.
All signs lead to laughter… The spirited orchestra is conducted by Patti Garwood and visually, the Mieka van der Ploeg costumes and scenic design by Scott Davis combine with Jesse Klug lighting to set the stage perfectly from the Fan Dango to Vittorio’s lush suite, and the hotel elevator, a showcase scene for the comic talents of Horak and Goodrich. All signs lead to laughter, fun and a night of non-stop entertainment.
