Review • Richmond & Twickenham Times

MAGICAL PRODUCTION
BROS Theatre Company's production of Sweet Charity by Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields at the Hampton Hill Playhouse had all the elements - fine music, superb singing, spectacular dancing, stunning costumes and great acting - to create a fabulous evening's entertainment.

The Musical Director, Brett Wellcome, not only provided splendid orchestration for the show but also produced excellent singing from all the cast.

The overall direction of the show was in the hands of Matthew Chandler who also choreographed the splendid dancing numbers performed by the company with great gusto.

In the lead was Jane Poole-Wilson as Charity, who gave a memorable performance in this extremely taxing role. She was virtually on stage the whole two and a half hours. Never once did her singing, dancing and acting flag. She brought great pathos as well as comedy to the role.

John Nugent as Oscar, the much hoped-for husband-not-to-be of Charity was well played. Stuart Kennedy was both funny and very effective as Daddy Brubeck, the cult leader. Bryan Cardus as Vittorio Vidal was very convincing as the movie star and put over his songs superbly.

The other girls of the Fan-Dango Ballroom were very well portrayed by Debbie McDowell as Helen, Annie Deasy as Nikki not forgetting Janet Simpson as Ethel Herman, the Dance Hall's manageress.

The fantastic backcloth, complete with twinkling lights, the marvellous props and costumes, all added to the magic of this production.

George Hillier
Richmond & Twickenham Times