Customer Reviews

Sweet Charity (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Overall very pleasing recording to the 2005 revival of SWEET CHARITY starring Christina Applegate in her Broadway debut. She has an attractive and easygoing singing voice which is perfect for the lovelorn taxi dancer Charity Hope Valentine. Though at times she sounds eerily like previous Charity's Gwen Verdon and Shirley MacLaine. On the whole her performance on disc is delightful.

Denis O'Hare is a wonderful Oscar and performs a glowing reading of the Title Song. Kyra DaCosta and Janine LaManna, as Charity's cynical dancer buddies Nickie and Helene, have a ball with "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" and "Baby Dream Your Dream".

The orchestra, under the direction of Don York, is crisp and solid. The Overture, though, has been sadly-abriged (a real shame because the SWEET CHARITY Overture is one of the all-time greats). However, this recording gives us the Entr'acte and other incidental music that was not included on earlier cast albums.

Some interesting bonus tracks: Christina Applegate performs an alternate verse from "Where Am I Going?"; and some rare Cy Coleman-Dorothy Fields demo recordings. DRG has packaged the disc in one of their flimsy cardboard-style cases, with a foldout insert containing photos and extensive liner notes.

A fine SWEET CHARITY but hardly the definitive rendition.

The new Broadway recording of the Cy Coleman/Dorothy Fields score "Sweet Charity" is a great recording. This score is considered one of Broadway's best scores, and this new recording serves the score justice.

Christina Applegate leads the show as Charity, and she does a fantastic job. She is very charming on the recording, and although she might miss a note or two - she still does a great job. Some of Christina's best moments are - "Charity's Soliloquy" which hasn't been in a professional production of Charity since the 60's! Christina also shines on the shows famous hit "If My Friends Could See Me Now", the charming "I'm The Bravest Individual", the heartbreaking "Where Am I Going?", and the new finale for the show which is a beautiful reprise of "I'm The Bravest Individual."
Also starring in Charity is one of Broadway's favorite leading men - the wonderful Denis O'Hare. Denis does a great job as Charity's wacky love interest, Oscar. Denis does a great job on "I'm The Bravest Individual" with Christina, "A Good Impression" which is new for this producion", and the wonderful title song. The supporting cast for Charity is great. As Charity's two buddies are Janine LaManna, and Kyra Da Costa. These two ladies do a fantastic job on "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This", and the beautiful "Baby, Dream Your Dream." Paul Schoeffler does a beautiful job on his big power ballad "Too Many Tomorrows."

Overall - this is a fantastic recording of this show. This recording also includes some treats! The songs "A Good Impression", and "I'm The Bravest Individual - Reprise" have never been in a production of Charity, they are new for the revival - and they are great songs. This recording also includes Christina singing a unused verse of "Where Am I Going?", and a few demos sung by Cy Coleman.

This recording is a real treat for anyone who loves Sweet Charity, loves the score, or loves Christina Applegate.

Check this recording out. It will bring you fun, laughs, and good times!

I saw this show last month and was blown away by it. I've seen quite a few Broadway shows and this has got to be the only revival I have completely become obsessed with. I am so happy a soundtrack has been released ( I am still upset that the Neil Patrick Harris/Debbie Gibson soundtrack of 'Cabaret' has not been released)but that's not important in this reiew. The entire soundtrack of 'Sweet Charity' is amazing! Christina Applegate and Denis O'Hare are incredible!. My favourite songs were 'Big Spender' and 'If my Friends Could See Me Now', but now that I bought the cd and I am listening again, I have to admit that 'Charity's Soliloquy' and 'I'm The Bravest Individual' have replaced the latters.
I greatly admire Christina Applegate being that this is her first time on Broadway. Her portrayal of Charity actually beats Gwen Verdon's and Shirley Maclaine's portrayal's (don't kill me for saying that) but I can't help it! Christina IS CHARITY!

By now, everybody knows about the pluck Christina Applegate showed in overcoming a broken foot and bringing this revival to New York come hell or high water last spring. What the inner circle naysayers have to say about this Broadway neophyte is beside the point, as this bubbly new cast recording attests to. Ms. Applegate's slight and slightly wobbly soprano may not be an instrument for the ages, but right from her very first song, "You Should See Yourself", she nails the sweet essence of Charity and establishes her character simply through the use of her voice and comic timing. It's amazing that she is new to this game because her alternate use of vocalising and exclaiming the lyrics adds a vibrance and specificity to her interpretation that more accomplished singers often fail to achieve. In fact, her vocal limitations only add to Charity's vulnerability, and the forcefulness of her line readings justifies this one-time TV performer's selection for the role in this revival. In fact, this CD is mostly a joy to listen to. First, of course, there is the score, one of the best of the 60's. "Big Spender" and "If They Could See Me Now" were the hits, but "Charity's Soliloquy", "There's Gotta Be Something Better...", "I'm the Bravest Individual" and "Rhythm of Life" are just as good. The orchestrations are bouncy and dead on crisp, making this score sound contemporary while still betraying it's roots of forty years ago. The one blight on this recording is Dennis O'Hare as Charity's love interest. He sounds at once both too old for her and too fey, and some of his vocal readings are downright annoying. Still, what you have here is a new recording that may not be more than the sum of its parts, but surely some of its parts are more than worth a listen. And above it all sails Ms. Applegtate as the adorable Charity. Let's hope this isn't the last time she'll listen to the lullabye of old Broadway.

I saw Sweet Charity in NY this summer and was surprisingly delighted. Christina Applegate was adorable in act one and by the end of act two, I was thrilled to see how her character had developed. She truly did a fine job singing, dancing and acting. She was hysterical in the closet scene. Dennis O'Hare was a complete trip. He had us on the edge of our seats with laughter and then stunned by the end of the show. His compressed, neurotic energy is expressed in each of his songs. Even the way he pronounces Charity as "Churity." I truly loved all of the changes in the orchestration of the show. Especially Rich Man's Fruge (the choreography was outstanding and I loved the funky wigs) and Rhythm of Life which rocked the house. I will probably wear my cd out from playing this track over and over. The energy in this number was electric. My favorite performers were the two girls up on platforms stage left who were truly groovin' to the beat. There were so many wonderful moments in the production and this recording brings them back. My only disappointment with the show was I'm A Brass Band...but I've never really liked the song anyway. Although, it does work well in the context of the show. Of course everyone will have their opinions, but I do find myself listening to this cd quite a bit.

...This is a great recording. The negative people reviewing this CD can't seem to get over the fact they did another production of Sweet Charity without Fosse, and Gwen. Yes, both were amazing. But some people need to just get over it, and enjoy this revival for what it is - a great updated version of a classic show.

The cast recording is in fine shape. Christina is a fine Charity, and some people just can't come to accept that. A lot of the critics loved her, and all the audiences are crazy over her. We should be glad to have such a classic show back on Broadway, and not more Broadway fluff crap, but instead some people are too consumed on comparing this production to the original. This isn't the original production of Charity, but it's a fine one. And the wonderful performances can be heard on this cast recording. Denis O'Hare is great. Janine LaManna and Kyra DaCosta are also great.

Check out the recording for the new revival of Charity! With this score, you can't go wrong with any recording!

Christina Applegate is a totally endearing, multi-faceted performer, but there is no way you can forget Gwen Verdon, or to a lesser degree, Shirley MacLaine in the so-so movie. However, I love revival recordings, if only because they tend to record a more complete score, and they are technically so superior to most of the older originals. On that score, this Sweet Charity doesn't disappoint.
While Applegate is fine, Dennis O'Hare shines as Oscar. The rest of the cast are okay. Nothing more, nothing less. And as Nicki, Janine LaMama can't overcome Bebe Neuwirth in the Debbie Allen revival in the 80's. Allen also suffered the same comparison as Applegate.
One note about the score, one of Coleman's best, the song Too Many Tomorrows is beautifully done here. A gorgeous ballad, I think has been under appreciatted among all the bigger, brassier numbers.
The bonus tracks at the end of the CD of Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields are mere annoying curiosity pieces, to be listened to once, then turned off.
Overall a pleasant CD, Christina Applegate still needs that one big role that can make her a bona fide broadway star, she has the talent and versatility, now she has to get the right show.

Purchased my first copy after seeing Applegate on Broadway. Enjoyed it soooo much it became a favorite, but lost it. So, I was very happy with the fast delivery.

This soundtrack is worth listening if you are a Broadway Musical Lover, the music has a modern beat but it keeps the original intention of Cy Coleman. "The Rhythm of Life" is the most updated song and it has been modified significantly... for good.

Although there is nothing spectacular about the voices, it is worth listening to Christina Applegate she does a good job personificating Sweet Charity and she sings just right.

The soundtrack includes 5 additional songs sung by Cy Coleman itself while he plays the Piano, I liked those a lot. Additionally, there is a never before edited verse of "Where Am I Going".

Although vocally not as strong as previous Charity Hope Valentine's and of course no one can or should compare Christina Applegate to Gwen Verdon, Christina exudes charm throughout this recording. David Hare is wonderful and the supporting cast does a fine job of keeping the charm and integrity of this musical intact. I would loved to have seen it live. I completely enjoyed myself listening to this cd and will enjoy it several times more.