Saucy, Sexy and Laughs Aplenty

"CHARITY Hope Valentine is one of the most upbeat characters in musical history.  She strikes out with her relationships and career, ends up in the lake and still manages to smile.

Chatswood Musical Society is always good for a fun time at the theatre - and it's production of Sweet Charity is no exception.  With strong characterisation and big ensemble routines, special mention should be made of choreographer Kate Dann.

  Isabella Harvey shimmies and shimmers in a red dress as Charity, her second time in the role.  And Blake Erickson returns to the Zenith Theatre stage as the nervous fiance, Oscar. We last saw the versatile Erickson in the society's Blood Brothers.

Laughs are plentiful when Charity and Oscar meet on their way to a self-help lecture and spend the entire time stuck in a lift together.  They later have a first date at a religious meeting, where the cast performs a vibrant song and dance number, The Rhythm of Life.

Set in New York in the 1960s, Sweet Charity is famous for songs such as Big Spender and If My Friends Could See Me Now.  The society's Fandango girls are full of bravado, saucy and sexy.  There are stand-out performances from Charity's offsiders Jillian Freede as Nickie and Carolyn Reed as Heleene.

A highlight for Charity is meeting suave movie star Vittorio Vidal, played with poise by Patricio Ulloa.  What happens next?  See for yourself... tonight or tomorrow night"

Zenith Theatre, Chatswood; $35-$25 - Bookings: 1300 66 22 12 or chatswoodmusicals.org