Prospero Arts closed the year with a semi-staged production of Cy Coleman’s sentimental sixties musical Sweet Charity in the QPAC Concert Hall.
Sweet Charity follows plucky dance hall hostess Charity Hope Valentine through a series of misadventures in life and love across New York City. From a chance meeting with movie star Vittorio Vidal to a broken elevator and a church beneath the Manhattan Bridge, Charity maintains her sunny disposition, open heart, and relentless optimism as she and her friends at the dance hall dream of a life that is bigger and brighter than their current reality.
Sweet Charity premiered on Broadway in 1966, written by Neil Simon with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and original choreography by Bob Fosse. The musical was based on the Italian screenplay for Federico Fellini’s Nights Of Cabiria and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, ultimately winning the 1966 Tony Award for Best Choreography. The musical opened in London’s West End the following year and has had multiple revivals on both Broadway and West End. It was then adapted for film in 1969, directed and choreographed by Fosse and starring Shirley MacLaine as Charity. John McMartin reprised his Broadway role as Oscar Lindquist in the film, which was also Fosse’s directorial debut.
A 16-piece band led by Musical Director Michael Tyack performed the score live in this Prospero Arts concert version, and Cameron Mitchell’s direction and choreography made the most of the compressed stage space with outstanding dance sequences that were flawlessly executed by the ensemble.
Loren Hunter gave her all in the titular role, although Charity’s solo songs did not allow for the strongest showcase of her vocal power. Jake Speer played the shy but sweet accountant Oscar Linquist, and Simon Burke played the suave Vittorio as well as Herman, the sleazy owner of the Fandango Ballroom where Charity works. Kristina McNamara and Angelina Thomson were a dynamic duo as Nickie and Helene, Charity’s closest friends and co-workers at the Ballroom.
Mitchell’s detail-oriented, Fosse-inspired choreography was sharply performed by the ensemble, who also gave strong character performances. The ensemble of nine artists was outstanding and Hunter kept pace, despite being a stronger vocalist than dancer.
A catwalk above the band and a staircase descending through the centre were used well. Movement across multiple levels kept the stage feeling full and busy. Colourful costuming sparkled with sequins, tassels, beads, and frills. Furniture was wheeled on and off to adjust the scene settings, and lighting design by Ben Hughes also created separate spaces on the stage.
Video design by Craig Wilkinson played out above the performance, commencing with opening credits and supporting the setting with colourful, cartoonish depictions of locations like Central Park, Vittorio’s apartment, and the Fandango Ballroom. Scene transitions in these video designs were reminiscent of point-and-click games from the early 2000s, and comic book-esque onomatopoeia was also incorporated.
Prospero Arts’ Sweet Charity was a colourful and charming in-concert performance, making the most of a smaller stage space with outstanding dance sequences and strong character performances.
Sweet Charity played at QPAC Concert Hall, South Bank, from 11 – 14 December 2025
For further information, visit the Prospero Arts website
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