I love watching theater productions especially when I have no clue on what the story is about. I just want to sit back, watch with fresh eyes and mind, and go with the flow of the acts with no biases whatsoever. Such is the case when I watched 9Works Theatrical's Sweet Charity on preview night and because I don't want the experience to be pre-empted, I just kept the programme that was given inside my bag.
As the story unfolded, I joined the heroine's journey of trying to find true love in a crazy world. Charity Hope Valentine is a dance hall hostess who have just been dumped by her love interest who ran away with her hard-earned money. She seeked comfort and solace in the company of her friends, who were dancers for hire in the club, but did not close her heart in the hopes of finding her happiness someday. In the process of sorting things out and finding other things to do with her life, she sought out to join a group for some cultural enlightenment. As she made her way up the building where the group meets, she met shy accountant Oscar Lindguist. Unfortunately, the two got stucked in the elevator for hours and with Oscar being a claustrophobic, things got crazy and funny at the same time. I must say, the elevator scene is THE highlight of the play!
Lady in red, Nikki Gil as Charity Hope Valentine
I won't reveal the rest of the story...that's for you to find out soon while Sweet Charity is still being staged. Will just share these tidbits: the show features the popular song Big Spender; and as director Robbie Guevarra shared at the press con, the show includes numbers that have no relation whatsoever to the scenes but they are there as show stoppers, a performance or segment of a theatrical production, popular way back in the 60s and 70s, that induces a positive reaction strong enough to pause (stop) the production (show).
The Fandango Ballroom girls singing Big Spender
Sweet Charity cast is led by mainstream singer/actress Nikki Gil and a singing contest find Kris Lawrence. This is Nikki Gil's second time to do a theater production, the first time being last year's Legally Blonde The Musical, but she was so good with her portrayal of Charity and showed exceptional vitality in her singing and dancing parts. The newbie to the theater scene, Kris Lawrence was a revelation as he tackled the role of Oscar like a pro.
Leads Nikki Gil and Kris Lawrence as Charity and Oscar
Tender scene on a ferris wheel ride
Joining Nikki and Lawrence are Ciara Sotto-Oconer (as Helene), Sheree (as Carmen) and Shiela Valderrama-Martinez (as Nickie) plays Charity's co-dancers and closets friends; stage veteran Miguel Faustmann plays Herman, the authoritarian owner of the Fandango Ballroom and Charity’s boss; OJ Mariano, who was previously in the cast of RENT, plays the dual role of Vittorio Vidal, the charming, egotistical and confident Italian film star Vittorio Vidal; and Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck, the mesmerizing leader of the Rhythm of Life Church; and Angela Padilla as Ursala March, the melodramatic actress and Vittorio’s jealous girlfriend.
OJ Mariano as hippie Daddy Brubeck
Joining the ensemble are Caisa Borromeo, who I last saw in Repertory Philippines' Shakespeare in Hollywood; Chinie Nepomuceno; prima dancers Vinia Pamplona and Carmelle Ros as dancehall hostesses opposite Charity, as well as other theater veterans Topper Fabregas, Job Bautista, Francis Matheu, Anthony Tarrosa Ong, Peter Alcedo and Chai Relucio.
The cast of Sweet Charity
Over-all, 9Works Theatrical's staging of Sweet Charity is a sweet success for the world-class performances and great assemblage of talents both on stage and off stage. Working with director Robbie on Sweet Charity are assistant director Lorenz Martinez, musical director for orchestra Joseph Tolentino, musical director for vocals Sweet Plantado, sound designer Chuck Ledesma, scenographer Mio Infante, lighting designer Martin Esteva, and costume designers Mio Infante and Hanna de los Reyes.
Sweet Charity opened last Aug. 5 and will run with performances on all weekends of August at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For information, call 557-5860, 586-7105 or 0917-5545560 or email info@9workstheatrical.com.
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