Sweet Charity

Twelve months ago a small, new musical theatre space opened with a production of Sweet Charity that was bold, energising and wonderfully cast. It hasn’t taken long for Hayes Theatre to make its mark.

That production of Sweet Charity has now opened at the Opera House’s Playhouse Theatre with star Verity Hunt-Ballard once again turning in a career-making performance as the unlucky-in-love Charity Hope Valentine. Hunt-Ballard’s comic timing and boundless enthusiasm are just the icing on top of the cake made with her singing and dancing abilities. Her top hat and cane routine during If My Friends Could See Me Now is a production highlight. But nothing tops the brassy, sexy Big Spender.

Revival musicals can often end up more camp than sexy but right from the start this production brings its audience into a world that is dark and seedy allowing Hunt-Ballard and her fellow “dancers” to really explore the drudgery of their day job. Once again Debora Krizak carves out plenty of space for her tough-talking Nikki and Martin Crewes has really settled into his role as the various men who Charity pins all her hopes on.

Losing nothing in the move to a bigger theatre, Sweet Charity is surely only the first hit of many for Hayes.

Sydney Opera House Playhouse to 8 Feb