Made a last minute decision to see something on stage – the first show, on a day & time suitable, was Sweet Charity at the Shaw, Niagara-on-the-Lake. We didn’t see any shows in their last season – nothing appealed. I’ve never been a fan of Shaw – too much social conscience for me, I suppose.
marzipan hat
I’ve seen the film, Sweet Charity, a few times & also more than one drag and/or burlesque take on Hey Big Spender. I quite like the film, fast forward, as the plot & characterizations are merely there to pin the numbers on. By the mid-60’s The Broadway musical found itself unable to be ‘relevant’ in the wash of pop music: Bob Dylan, Beatles. Then along came ‘Hair.’ Sweet Charity paves the way for shows like ‘Hair’ & ‘Godspell’
The staging is excellent with the serviceable main piece that serves as bridge, subway car, dance hall swing; the costumes are spot-on; the music is serviceable, some fun moments & the orchestra is excellent. Support players are good, never pulling focus, dancing & singing capably.
chocolate bark boat
The lead: Julie Martell is fine with a Barbra Streisand sensibility. She belts without over-signing, which I like, but never gets a song that pulls me into her character – not that she doesn’t get some great songs mind you. A better singer than a dancer, which might be the point with Charity stuck as a dance-hall hostess. Kyle Blair as her prince-charming was good, but needed a little more Woody Allen in his performance.
Melanie Phillipson & Kimberley Rampersad as Charity’s co-hostesses were great fun to watch & I found myself wishing for more of them & their Neil Simon patter. “There ain’t no use flappin’ your wings, ’cause we are stuck in the flypaper of life!” Their duet ‘Baby, Dream Your Dream’ was a show highlight for me.
maple fudge Laura
Choreographer Parker Esse had the biggest challenge in the face of the iconic Fosse moves in the film & original Broadway production. He wisely resisted duplicating, or even paying direct homage to Fosse. There were some fun glints of imagination in the Rich Man’s Frug sequence but on the whole the dance work lacked spark. Energetic enough but none of it made me think ‘wow’ – I’m someone who can be moved to tears by good dancing. Even though I wasn’t captivated by the dancing I would highly recommend the show.
Shuffle
the king
the queen
both were at the table
both were on the table
hand in hand
both
playing the Mortal Coil
looking to discard
looking for a loop hole
a way out
a trick
to bring the house tumbling down
a way to keep
the bridge sturdy and going
to keep one out of each other’s clubs
doing the spade work
to keep each row of roses
perfect and still
the shrill craw of peacocks
as they drag their lumpy tails
across the the dewy lawns
the screech of cooks
missing their tarts
the final insurrection
and off with those heads
or head them off
before they make it to the pass
before they make a pass
at the king
or the queen
before the deal is made
before the dealer’s golden arm
is ready for another poke
as our lives
go up the hole
in daddy’s arm
shoes
college educations
all those tidy possibilities
gone
short
shot up
squandered
misplayed
taking up more space that needed
more suites
more ties
ripping the diamond brooch
off the the queen
lobbing the pieces of my heart
go on take it
take another piece
take another chance
bid now or
too late sold
to the jack of all trades
who didn’t eat
who didn’t even have to bluff
he knew and he took
simple and direct
flex and flushed
the door slam
catching fingers
shaking that ace up the sleeve
out and on to the table
to rest
exposed
between the king and queen
between the devil and the deep blue sea
between you and me
nothing much else matters
expect the games we play
the ins and outs
the red on black
the odd and even
and the odds are
one of us will get even
one of us will make the play
one of us will find his way
to the fridge to make a snack
for the other will find his favorite show on tv
is now on at the same time
as the other’s favorite show
and then where will we be
alone
solitary
in separate rooms
flipping through channels
wondering if the other one
has better channels
has something hidden
has one last chance
to fill in the straight story
to come home to a full house
to give the queen a break
see the future laid out neatly
ah yes letter will arrive
a stack of letters
will shuffle through
the mail slot
and in one of them will be news
of a trip
a long lost relative
a triple threat opportunity
that mean
means
nothing much beyond
the horizon
under the stairs
grandma’s house
those dusty hidden corners
where we’d find cobwebs
and once a dead mouse
do you remember
neither do I
but I’ve been told
I screamed and screamed
when I put my hand on
the sticky little furry spot
couldn’t be calmed down
till someone sat at my bed side
warm milk
and read the gospel of the card
these are the apostles
this is the journey of the magi
this the second time
and here
here is the future
of mankind
playing with a full deck
playing with a full stomach
and I fell asleep
and woke up back in reality
on this side of the looking glass
in front of you
beside me
wearing the same old shoes
shirt
sweater
I know things will be alright
once we cut out the crap
and pick a card
any card
September 3-6 – attending – Fan Expo
( I’ve registered already 🙂 )
http://fanexpocanada.com
October 18, Sunday – feature: Cabaret Noir: Inner Child Sacrifice
https://www.facebook.com/events/668001953300594/
November 1 – 30 Participating NaNoWriMo
http://nanowrimo.org/
Like my pictures? I post lots on Tumblr
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/topoet
liquorice shoe
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The text was more political than I recalled. Her feminism was strong without being strident. The role of the arrogant colonizers in Southeast Asia was not overlooked either. The King was considered a barbarian mainly because he was resistant to European’s seeking to exploit his country. The European notion that ‘civilized’ meant conforming to their standards of dress & religion was used to belittle & suppress, not to advance & improve.
The production had a great diverse cast. Were all the Asian performers actually Thais? I can’t say – cast photos were on display not their family trees 🙂 As I said earlier performances were solid but the over-all production lacked energy. Only Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang seemed to fully invested in her character, though Jose Llana had some fine moments of puzzlement. Finally the Small House of Uncle Tom was given an excellent interpretation. 
