Sweet Charity

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sweet Charity is a musical based on Federico Fellini's 1957 film The Nights of Cabiria ( Le Notti di Cabiria ), which Neil Simon adapted for the stage. Cy Coleman composed the music and Dorothy Fields the lyrics .
The idea for the musical comes from Bob Fosse . Fosse also directed and choreographed the show, which premiered on January 29, 1966 at the Palace Theater on Broadway . Gwen Verdon played the role of the Charity Hope Valentine .
The first performance in London's West End was on October 11, 1967 at the Prince of Wales Theater. The German-language premiere took place on February 7, 1970 in the Hessian State Theater Wiesbaden .

action

The amusement girl Charity, who dances with men for money, has not lost her belief in the goodness of people and eternal pure love even after eight years in this job. She therefore always gets to men who take advantage of her and is viewed by her friends as naive and unteachable. By chance she makes the acquaintance of an Italian film star, whom she inspires with her unspoilt manner and encourages him to reconcile with his girlfriend, with whom he wants to break up. However, her friends do not believe her that she shared the night with the star but not the bed.

Charity is looking for a professional way out and meets the tax advisor Oscar, who falls in love with her. Charity initially withholds her true job from him, but even after he finds out about it, he wants to marry his girlfriend. Triumphantly, she quits the pub and says goodbye to her old life. Oscar, who himself suffers from various complexes, leaves her in the registry office. Charity does not dare to reveal her friends, who see in her the proof that a way out of this milieu is possible.

After a night on the street, however, the young woman realizes that all possibilities in life are now open to her and she is determined to seize this opportunity.

Well-known music numbers

  • Big donor
  • If My Friends Could See Me Now
  • The rhythm of life

filming

Sweet Charity was released in 1969, also directed by Bob Fosse ; the main role played Shirley MacLaine .

Awards

Sweet Charity was nominated for a total of 12 Tony Awards in 1966 , with Bob Fosse winning the Best Choreography category .

Re-performances

In 1986 it was rediscovered for Broadway and won 4 Tony Awards in the categories "Best Revival", "Best Featured Actor in a Musical" ( Michael Ruper ), "Best Featured Actress in a Musical" ( Bebe Neuwirth ) and "Best Costume Design" “( Patricia Zipprodt ).

In 2005 a second Broadway revival followed with Christina Applegate in the role of charity. This production received 3 nominations for a Tony Award.

literature

Web links