Sweet Charity comes with lashings of playfulness

I would be an abysmal reviewer if I glossed over the hair-raising sound problems as "Sweet Charity" opened at the Abbey on Thursday night.

The best thing about live theatre is that anything can happen.  Yes, there were large grizzly bear-sized gremlins in the sound mix but the big-hearted, big-talent cast kept on keeping on as it were another day at the office - allowing the technical team to work their magic and quickly solve the problem.  It made for an exciting opening and was a privilege to watch this coherent team take it in their stride.

False start - no.  I would call it more of a hurdle jumped as we were transported into the incredible mind of Palmerston North's own answer to Baz Luhrmann - director Ian Harman.  I don't make this comparison lightly.

I love Luhrmann - the style of his films is unflinching.  Harman achieves the same sense of style with a bare stage, and when the stage starts to fill up with his painstakingly sequined and tasselled costumes we know we are in the hands of a consummate show man.

"Sweet Charity" burst onto Broadway in 1966 - the brain child of Cy Coleman.  The original production, and the movie which followed in 1969, were both helmed by musical theatre legend Bob Fosse - who Harman emulates in many of this production's dance numbers.  Harman's choreography is feisty and completely authentic, while maintaining a striking and modern contemporary edge.

The set, also from Harman, is stark and very versatile with a couple of literal "pop out" surprises.

In the title role of Charity Hope Valentine we must thank whichever God we pray to for Sam Lyons.

In order for this character to work Charity must be enthused with lashings of playfulness and vulnerability - otherwise there isn't really a lot to cheer for.  Lyons connects with her audience from her first appearance and keeps on making us love her Charity throughout the play's darker moments, as well as being an incredible dancer and possessing unteachable comic timing.

Conil Tod and Daniel Pooley support well, channelling Rocky Horror's Brad and Sasha Baron Cohen respectively.

The production team has not been scared off by a smaller venue and has crammed a huge show into the wonderfully intimate Abbey.  The talented ensemble fills every nook and cranny, and despite the sometimes ho-hum backing tracks they make excellent voice on the myriad of well known songs, such as Hey Big Spender and The Rhythm of Life.

It does run far longer than it should, but I prefer to look at this as value for money.  This "Sweet Charity" has charm, vision and all the right elements for a brilliant night out.