Sally Spieth brought more than sweetness Monday to Charity Valentine.
Spieth combined rambunctious vulnerability with Big Apple chutzpah to bring “Sweet Charity” to life in the Savannah Center.
The musical runs through Wednesday and part of the proceeds benefit Villagers for Veterans.
Spieth has been performing in Villages’ productions for nearly a decade, but this was her first starring role. She turned Charity into a sympathetic loser at love, with a gritty determination to keep searching for Mr. Right.
She also added nimble dance moves and displayed vocal prowess in an arduous and demanding role. Spieth’s self-deprecating humor and physical dexterity was a perfect fit for the character of Charity.
“I knew Sally could do it,” Director Bill Davis said after opening night for The Villages Musical Theater production. “Sally was phenomenal; it’s a big part and she’s on stage all night. She pulled it off.”
But there were some butterflies.
“Those first few minutes, I was nervous big time,” Spieth said, after earning a huge ovation and bouquet of red roses on stage. “But after those few minutes, I felt great and everything fell into place.
“I have mixed feelings about the starring role. It’s a joyous opportunity and I’m grateful, but I’m also just part of the cast. We all worked really hard and I’m so pleased at the way it came out and to be a part of it.”
“Sweet Charity” tells the story of Charity Valentine, a New York City dance hall hustler who has a habit of falling in love and out of money.
In the opening act, Charity gets conned by a boyfriend who pushes her into Central Park Lake and takes off with her purse.
She returns to the Fan Dango Ballroom, to work with the other ladies. An early highlight was “Big Spender.” Sue Schuler, who choreographed the show, teamed with Kathy Chesley-Williams and other dancers on a slinky number, enhanced by a live orchestra directed by Kent Ingram.
Charity finagles a date with Italian movie star Vittorio Vidal (Bob Brandoni). First, Charity has to get Vittorio to ditch his blonde bombshell girlfriend Ursula, played by Mollie McCarthy.
McCarthy was exquisitely titillating in the role and a dominating presence on stage. It was a relatively small part but McCarthy made a big impact, with her facial expressions and humor. Brandoni added some depth to the comic scene with a tender number, “Too Many Tomorrows.”
Unfortunately for Charity, Vittorio wound up spending the night with Ursula in his bed, while Charity spent the time hiding in the actor’s closet.
But the meeting with the movie star led to the first showstopper for Spieth as she sang, “If My Friends Could See Me Now.” She started slowly but by the end of the number was prancing around stage with a cane and top hat.
Next man up for Charity was a nerdy, “goofball” named Oscar, played by Jack Filkins. He made Oscar sort of a combination of Robin Williams and Don Knotts, shaking and screeching with manic delight.
Filkins was a nervous wreck while getting stuck with Charity in an elevator. He was sweating and jiggling and seemed to be exploding like an overcooked bag of microwave popcorn.
Eventually, Charity and Oscar turn into a real life odd couple. He only sees good in the battle-scarred lover known as Charity.
The dance hall ladies know it’s too good to be true. But Schuler and Chesley-Williams combine for a duet on “Baby Dream Your Dream,” to let Charity know it’s worth a shot.
Oscar wants to get married. He and Charity meet with a bunch of ‘60s’ hippies on a scene that looks like it came from “Hair.” The number is called “Rhythm of Life” and the whole religious commune had the stage rocking.
Charity prepares for marriage and the gang at the dance hall gives her a surprise party. The dance hall owner, played by Sam Rosalsky, led a raucous dance and song celebration on “I Love to Cry At Weddings.”
But wedded bliss remained an elusive goal for Charity. Oscar got cold feet and Charity ended up with a wet head.
It was all part of an entertaining evening when Sally Spieth made Charity Valentine’s sweet and sour story come alive.