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Past Shows
Sweet Charity
An insider's view...
Chinnor Musical Theatre's production of Sweet Charity ran from Monday 12th to Saturday 17th April 2004, with a matinee on the final afternoon. After auditions in October 2003, rehearsals had started in November, leaving nearly 5 months to learn words, songs, dances and actions. It seems a long time, but nevertheless, everyone worked tremendously hard to make the show a big success. We rehearsed on Tuesday evenings, with principal rehearsals on Friday evenings. As we got nearer the big opening night, we began to run the show on Sunday afternoons to see how all the bits fitted together.
We always hold a Technical Rehearsal on the Saturday before the Easter Monday opening night, with Band Call and a full Dress Rehearsal on the Sunday afternoon. Despite all the months of work, it's not until the costumes go on that we all realise what we're about to do.
The nerves start, but so does the real excitement. We like to think that we're an amateur society that does things as professionally as possible. We're not lucky enough to have a purpose built theatre in Thame, so we have to spend a week turning the school hall of Lord Williams's Lower School into a reasonable facsimile of a West End theatre, with lights, sound and seating. The result isn't as good as a real theatre, but if the show is good enough the audience can forget their surroundings.
And the week flew by. The audiences loved the colour, the energy and the laughter that the production brought to the stage. Every single person on stage and backstage was in the right place, at the right moment, helping the show run like a well oiled machine, Admittedly, it needed a few drops of lubrication during Technical and Dress Rehearsal, but no more than last minute polishing to add extra shine. We had a glittering week and everyone was a star.
To pick out individuals seems unfair, but I have to mention a few. First, their was our leading lady, Lizo Boultwood. The most common comment from the audience after the show was, "where does she get the energy?". Lizo was on stage for almost the entire evening, yet she gave off an amazing energy the whole time. We were all exhausted just watching her. Then there was Nickie and Helene, Charity's friends, played superbly by Lynn Boyd-Leslie and Megan Underwood. Every night their performance of 'There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This' visibly lifted the audience.
Also due a mention are Stephen Chadd and Stephen Wilcox as 'Daddy' Brubeck and Herman. Both really got under the skin of their characters and made them their own. Then there was our Vittorio, played and sung beautifully by Martin Dykoff. And speaking of beauty, I mustn't forget our effervescent Ursula, played by Joy Skeels. And of course, there were the dancers, who tapped, lunged, plunged, bumped and grinded their way through each performance, driving all the male cast members to distraction in mini skirts or less.
Almost last, but by no means least, there was the chorus, who are the heart and the beat of Chinnor Musical Theatre. They were wonderful. One of the most commented upon parts of the show was the scene where the chorus came on, packed together like sardines in a tin, riding an invisible subway. They jostled and poked and swayed, and the audience loved it. Oh yes, and there was me too. I played Oscar, and I'm pleased to say I didn't mess anything up too badly all week. I'll settle for that.
But what a wonderful week we all had.
Ian Skeels - 'Oscar'