THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET

Sweet Charity is the latest in a string of Menier Chocolate Factory productions to transfer to the West End following huge success and critical acclaim.

Sweet charity tells the story of dance-hall hostess Charity Hope Valentine who believes in that swoony, goopy, look into your eyes forever kind of love. In a desperate attempt to find Mr Right she keeps finding Mr Very Wrong.

After being swindled by her lover, Charity goes weak at the knees for an Italian movie star and then falls for bumbling Oscar. Mark Umbers shines in his multi-faceted role as all three of these men in Charity's life. In fact, I must admit that I did not realise that it was the same actor in all the roles until the final curtain call - what talent!

Tamzin Outhwaite does a stellar job as the kooky yet feisty Charity. She can really sing and dance! There are some fantastic performances with Josefina Gabrielle and Tiffany Graves as Charity's ever cynical dressing room confidantes.

The score features the famous numbers Hey Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now and The Rhythm Of Life. The brassy band delivers Cy Coleman's stupendous jazzy score with flair.

The chorus girls grace Fandango Ballroom with their jaded charm, dazzling legs and double-jointed shoulders. "Who dances? We defend ourselves to music" says Nikki to an aspiring Dance Hall Hostess. The dance-hall hostesses breathe death into the cynical dead-eyed number, Big Spender, their drained voices promising "Fun... laughs... good time". Although much indebted to the Fosse original Stephen Mear's choreography is inventive, witty and fresh.

To dispel the "happily ever after" ending for a poignant conclusion is quite a rarity in musical theatre and is perhaps why this musical works so well. Sweet Charity successfully reveals a little of the dark and twisty beneath the sugar coated surface.

Review Date: 28 June 2010