Sweet Sweet Charity

A young dancer dreams of finding true love in Sweet Charity, a stylish and very engaging musical being performed by The Community Players. The show opened March 28 and runs until April 13 at Jenks Auditorium in Pawtucket.

Originally produced on Broadway in the 1960s, Sweet Charity has a book written by  Neil Simon, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The legendary Bob Fosse served as choreographer.

Charity Hope Valentine (Lisa Ziniti Palmer) works at the Fandango Ballroom in New York City. The women get paid to dance, flirt and sometimes seduce the male patrons. Her fellow dancers, Nickie (Kerissa Roderick) and Helene (Heather Santos), serve as Charity’s confidantes.

Charity, who sports a heart tattooed on her left arm, is a kind-hearted woman who gives to every beggar who asks for a donation. Like her fellow dancers, she hopes to escape her desperate existence.

One night, Charity meets the suave Italian movie star, Vittorio Vidal (Michael Duarte), who is with his glamorous fiancee Ursula March (Courtney Pritt). After Vittorio takes a liking to Charity, he invites her to his swanky apartment for dinner. When Ursula arrives unexpectedly, Vittorio stashes Charity in his bedroom closet for the night.

Charity later goes to the 92^nd Street YMCA, where she gets stuck in an elevator with shy accountant Oscar Lindquist (Kevin Broccoli). Charity tells Oscar she works at a bank. The two form a bond and love blossoms while they share some time on a ferris wheel at Coney Island. Oscar calls her Sweet Charity. Will the two lovebirds live happily ever after?

The success of a show like Sweet Charity depends on the charisma of its lead character and in this area, Palmer excels. She’s spunky, graceful, and enormously likable as Charity.

“If My Friends Could See Me Now” is sung by Charity in Vidal’s apartment and its a real showstopper. Palmer has a superb voice and dances with a lot of style.  She also has fabulous chemistry with Broccoli, who is endearing as Oscar.

There are fine supporting performances by Roderick and Santos, who are seductive in their Act 2 song, “Baby, Dream Your Dream.”

Duarte sings the lovely ballad “Too Many Tomorrows,” which is a highlight in Act One.

Michael Evora displays a lot of personality as Big Daddy Brubeck when he performs “The Rhythm of Life” set in the church of the same name in Act Two.

The ensemble performs the high-spirited “I Love to Cry at Weddings” at the Fandango near the end of Act Two.

The show’s technical aspects are all outstanding.

Director Greg Geer has crafted an energetic, fast-paced show that brings out the best in its talented group of performers. The choreography is smooth and smartly executed.

The costumes by Laurea Osborne are eye-popping and truly capture the style of the 1960s, when the story is set.

The musical accompaniment by Mark Colozzi, Steve Toro, Greg Piccirillo, Josh Kane, Garrett Campbell and Janelle Roussel perfectly complements the performers without overwhelming them.

Sweet Charity doesn’t feature any deep insights about human nature or any profound life lessons. It’s just a fun, light-hearted way to escape from reality for a few hours.

Sweet Charity, performed by The Community Players, April 4-6 and 11-13, Jenks Auditorium, Division Street, Pawtucket, RI. Reservations: www.thecommunityplayers.org. or 401-726-6860.