Off-Broadway Review: “Sweet Charity” at the New Group

David Roberts

OnStage Chief New York Theatre Critic

Although it is difficult to experience a musical like “Sweet Charity” without comparing the current production at the New Group with previous productions, that is the only fair way to be critical of the current incarnation of that iconic work done by Neil Simon, Cy Coleman, and Dorothy Fields. “Sweet Charity” at the New Group at the Pershing Square Signature Center should be judged on its own merit and not how it does or does not stand up to the 1966 Broadway production choreographed by Bob Fosse. The New Group’s “Sweet Charity” is unique, brilliantly cast, impeccably staged, and discovers the deep, rich underbelly of this musical that seems to have escaped notice until now.

It seems the most appropriate critical strategy for “reading” this new production of “Sweet Charity” is the new historicist criticism and the cultural criticism.  Like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” the New Group’s “Sweet Charity” is a compelling and rich trope for none other than ‘America,” the same scarlet ‘A’ of Hawthorne’s novel. Like America, Charity Hope Valentine (played with a powerful introspective spirit by Sutton Foster) has often been too trusting, too willing to compromise beliefs, too dependent on others for well-being, and often far too confident about the future. America, like Charity, has also been self-effacing to the point of self-destruction.

“Sweet Charity’s” predominant theme of identity counterpoints profoundly with the Nation’s search for identity. The musical peels away the layers of Charity’s past revealing her vulnerability and her less explored – but equally evident – inner strength. “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” with Nickie (Asmeret Ghebremichael) and Helene (Emily Padgett) becomes the musical’s mantra and Charity’s anthem. They deliver with an earnest longing, “And when I find me some life I can live/I’m gonna get up I’m gonna get out/I’m gonna get up get out and live it.”

Under Leigh Silverman’s sharp direction, the members of the impressive cast deliver authentic performances animated with deep honesty and endearing charisma. Derek McLane’s multipurpose set design serves as the dance hall, Vittorio Vidal’s (Joel Perez) apartment, the elevator where Charity meets Oscar (Shuler Hensley), the park, and other New York City locations sometime in the 1960s. Costumes by Clint Ramos and lighting by Jeff Croiter’s add rich levels of realism to the musical’s strength. The six-member all-female Sweet Charity Band does justice to Cy Coleman’s score and Joshua Bergasse’s choreography is stunning.

Nothing is the same. Not “Sweet Charity.” Not America. The New Group gives us a new “Sweet Charity” unencumbered by the past. The new historicist “reading” looks forward to a new America unencumbered by its past. Just as Charity wonders where she is going at the musical’s conclusion, so America can ask, “What am I all about and where am I going?” And America can confess, “Looking inside me. What do I see? Anger and hope and doubt, what am I all about?” No more moral cowardice for Charity. And no more moral cowardice for America. America, now more than ever, needs “dream its dream.”

SWEET CHARITY

Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, and Ennio Plaiano, “Sweet Charity” is presented by The New Group in association with Kevin McCollum.

“Sweet Charity” features Yesenia Ayala, Darius Barnes, James Brown III, Sutton Foster, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Shuler Hensley, Sasha Hutchings, Donald Jones, Jr., Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Emily Padgett, Joel Perez, and Cody Williams.

This production features Scenic Design by Derek McLane, Costume Design by Clint Ramos, Lighting Design by Jeff Croiter, Sound Design by Leon Rothenberg, Wig and Hair Design by Charles G. LaPointe, Make-Up Design by Joe Dulude II, Orchestrations by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Music Direction by Georgia Stitt.  Production Supervisor is Production Core.  Production Stage Manager is Valerie A. Peterson.  Casting is by Judy Henderson, CSA. Production photos by Monique Carboni.

The performance schedule at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) is Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., with matinee performances on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.  For additional performances and further information on the performance schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit The New Group’s website at http://www.thenewgroup.org/sweetcharity.html. 

Photo: Emily Padgett, Donald Jones Jr., Sutton Foster, Joel Perez, and Cody Williams star in Sweet Charity, directed by Leigh Silverman, for the New Group at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Credit: Monique Carboni.