Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
nycity26
Swing Joined: 7/8/05
#0Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:33am
I attended Sweet Charity last night. Christina was out sick, apparently.
Although Charlotte D'Amboise is a talented actress/dancer, she is a bit old to pull off the role, in my opinion. It really changes the nature of the story if Charity isn't a young naive girl but rather a woman in her 40s.
Anyway, if anybody is going this weekend, be forewarned that you may not see Christina.
#1re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:36amIf anyone finds out for sure that Charlotte is going on please let the rest us know! I'm dying to see her!
"The theater is my life. I live it. I breathe it. I fondle it till it falls asleep." Jack (Will And Grace)
http://feathah.blogspot.com
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#2re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:37am
I thought Charlotte left the show... oh well, she's great.
I think her age changes the show, but doesn't ruin it. Instead of being young and naive, it makes it as if Charity has been around the block - she's been doing what she does for longer. I saw Charlotte in Boston, and thought she was great.
#3re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:38am
Although Charlotte D'Amboise is a talented actress/dancer, she is a bit old to pull off the role, in my opinion.
She's roughly the same age as Gwen Verdon was when she originated the role.
#4re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:38am
I actually think Sweet Charity can work with an older actress, not that D'Amboise is that old.
And I would have much rather seen the talented D'Amboise over Applegate who just "got by" in my opinion.
nycity26
Swing Joined: 7/8/05
#5re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:39am
If you are anywhere nearby, I'd stop by the theater tonight.
I thought that Charlotte gave a good performance, although I did think casting her added to the pitiful dimension of the character.
But what made the experience unpleasant (and we've all been there) was the incessant complaining by the other audience members. And it was a lot of out-of-town summer tourists that wanted to see Christina. I heard a couple refer to her as "Kelly" from Married with Children.
Anyway, I'm sure that you can find somebody to sell you their ticket outside the theater if Christina is sick again. There were several customers complaining loudly at the box office last night, demanding a refund.
Swing Joined: 12/31/69
#6re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:47am
I would have LOVED to see D'Amboise take on the role! She's terrifiic!
And is she much older than Applegate, anyway? She doesn't look it.
#7re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:48am
I saw Charlotte on April 11th and Christina on April 22nd and May 7th. Honestly, as much as I LOVED Christina's performance, I thought Charlotte was better in the role. If she is going on for Christina this weekend, go see her.
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 10:48 AM
nycity26
Swing Joined: 7/8/05
#8re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:53am
"I would have LOVED to see D'Amboise take on the role! She's terrifiic! And is she much older than Applegate, anyway? She doesn't look it."
They said that Christina was sick, so I wouldn't be surprised if she is out again tonight. Go see it... there were a lot of people trying to get refunds last night. I'm not sure if they gave any.
I will say that I felt a bit uncomfortable with the other audience members. There were a lot of unhappy people in the audience. I was seated near several audience members who loudly complained before the show and through intermission. It was also obvious that many audience members were not applauding Charlotte's scenes, and applauding for other scenes.
But I think the complaints were partly driven by the lack of a "tv star" on stage with an out-of-town audience.
#9re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:59amOkay, first and foremost Mrs. Mann is not too old to play Charity. As a matter of fact she looks more the appropriate age than Ms. Applegate does not to mention the fact that she is much stronger dancer/singer. On a side note there is only 7 years difference between the two.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
eslgr8
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/04
#10re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:01amWhen I saw Christina as Charity last month, there was NO mention of Charlotte in the program, only Christina's understudy, so I assumed that Charlotte was no longer associated with the production. I can understand the audience's reaction. This is a true star vehicle show, and Christina brought every bit of her star quality to the role, besides giving an all around excellent performance. I would have been disappointed too, to say the least, had I not had the very good fortune to see her!
#11re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:03amIBDB.com lists Charlotte as "was replaced in preivews".
#12re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:05amWhen I saw the show in May, Charlotte wasn't even listed in the Playbill.
magruder
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#13re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:07am
Have to disagree with the original poster... it's not that Charlotte is too old for the role - it's that Christina Applegate is too young. Charity should be on the wrong side of 40 at least. She's not some fresh faced girl. She's someone who has been around, and is a little banged up by life. With an older Charity, the stakes are higher for her to get out of the Fandango Ballroom, meet a nice man and get married. Applegate, though she's very sweet in the role, hardly looks like Oscar is her very last chance at love.
"Gif me the cobra jool!"
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 11:07 AM
#14re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:09amAmen magruder!!!
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#15re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:11am
magruder is completely correct.
That said, Charlotte is far superior to Christina in the role. I've seen Charlotte once and Christina twice and I'm dying to see Charlotte again.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
#16re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:12amThanks Magruder. I am tired of Applegate being held up on this board like she is this flawless musical comedy star. WHile she has a lot of gusto, and does great in her book scenes, her singing and dancing are amateur at best. She's lucky she broke her foot. Got her better reviews than she would've gotten without the injury.
#17re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:13am
And if Denis O'Hare is her last chance at love, wouldn't she be better off alone? Maybe Liza can talk to her...
'The Devil be hitting me!'--Whitney Houston
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 11:13 AM
#18re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:15am
So true, Middy...
Has Oscar ever been played by a straight man? 
#19re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:16amI'm pretty sure the actor playing Oscar must be gay. That's why he leaves her right?
#20re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:21am
Is John McMartin gay? He originated the role.
I thought O'Hare was hysterical--more neurotic than gay.
#21re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:22amNeurotic/Gay. Same thing.
#22re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:24am
Charlotte D'Amboise is too old to play Charity...in THIS production: a production designed and built around a Charity who is 30 years old.
Charlotte D'Amboise is a stellar performer, but in my opinion, she does look a little out of place compared to the rest of the Applegate-Age-Appropriate cast.
And no -- Oscar isn't supposed to be gay. Nor is Bobby in COMPANY. Nor is Percival in THE SCARLET PIMPERNELL. Nor is The Phantom of the Opera...
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 11:24 AM
#23re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:26amWell, wasn't the whole point of dropping Sandy and Diaz and bringing in DaCosta and LaManna so that Helene and Nickie would look age-appropriate to D'Amboise's Charity?
nycity26
Swing Joined: 7/8/05
#24re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 11:27am
"Charlotte D'Amboise is too old to play Charity...in THIS production: a production designed and built around a Charity who is 30 years old."
I'd tend to agree with that. For example, I thought that the costumes weren't that flattering for her. It all contributed to the "pitiful" element that I referenced earlier.
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