Sweet Charity

Charity is a sweet-natured girl who works as a hostess in a sleazy dance-hall. She has had a succession of boyfriends, all whom have taken everything from her and abandoned her when she had nothing left to give. She longs to better herself and find a new better life and that opportunity seems to have arrived at last when she meets Oscar, a timid accountant. But how will Oscar react when he discovers the truth about her past.

WARNING SPOILER!!! - Click here for Short Synopsis (Teaser)

Act I

Charity Hope Valentine is a dance hall hostess selling dances at the sleazy Fan-Dango ballroom in New York City (Overture). In Central Park, Charity meets up with her boyfriend Charlie, a taker who consumes all her money. Charlie remains silent while Charity runs through all the compliments she imagines him saying to her, and ends up instead complimenting him on how handsome he is (You Should See Yourself). When she sits on the rail by the side of the lake Charlie pushes her in and runs off with her handbag containing most of her money. Passers-by pass comment on the young woman drowning in the lake but do nothing to help until a young Spaniard pulls her out. The police arrive and break up the crowd finding Charity is no worse other than a lost shoe. Back at the ballroom, Charity tries to convince the other dancers, and herself, that her fall into the lake was an accident and that Charlie ran off to fetch help. The other girls are sceptical, knowing how easily taken in she is. The ballroom manager comes in and tells the girls it is time to get to work, a Big Spender has just come in. Later some of the girls try to comfort Charity over Charlie's betrayal (Charity's Soliloquy). Later, Charity realises that Charlie used her and swears to be more selfish and never give to anyone again, but as she is walking home a succession of good causes soon end in her giving away what little money she had left. Then, just as she is passing the Pompeii club, film star Vittorio Vidal emerges in the middle of an argument with his co-star and girlfriend, Ursula. When Ursula refuses to go back inside with him, in order to make her jealous Vittorio invites the nearing girl he sees instead - the only too willing Charity. Inside, everyone is dancing to the latest dance craze, The Rich Man's Frug. Charity is excited at being in such a ritzy joint with a famous film star, but when Vittorio wants to dance she faints from not having eaten since breakfast. Vittorio takes her back to his apartment, where Charity is suddenly not hungry anymore and tries to make a pass at him. Vittorio is struck by her humour and honesty but resists her advances as he is in love with Ursula. Charity asks Vittorio for a signed photograph to show the girls back at the club to prove she was with him, and he responds not only with the photo but a selection of props from his old movies, leading Charity to reflect what they would think If My Friends Could See Me Now. Just then Ursula arrives to apologise to Vittorio, and Charity hides in the closet whilst they make up (Too Many Tomorrows), remaining there all night whilst the lovers make love in his four-poster bed. In the morning, Vittorio sneaks Charity out of the apartment and she returns to the club, showing off her souvenirs. The girls respond that they are disappointed that Charity did not get more financial reward from her night with Vittorio. They all agree they are fed up with their crummy lives and that There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This. Charity decides to better herself by enrolling for classes at the 'Y', but ends up stuck in a broken elevator with Oscar, a claustrophobic accountant. She helps him to overcome his immediate fear (I'm The Bravest Individual), only for them both to be plunged into a new panic when the lights go out.

Act II

Charity and Oscar are finally rescued from the broken elevator and the shy Oscar invites Charity to come to church with him. The Rhythm Of Life church turns out to be a new age/hippie religion congregating under the Manhattan bridge. A police raid breaks up the meeting and Oscar and Charity ride home on the subway. Oscar asks Charity for another date and tries to guess what kind of work she does. He guesses that she works in a bank and Charity, afraid he won't want to khow her if she tells him the truth, agrees. Back at the Fan-Dango club Charity tells the girls she is going to get married. They assume it will be the same as all her previous relationships, but get behind her anyway (Baby Dream Your Dream). Later, Charity and Oscar meet up on another date at Coney Island, but get stuck again when the Parachute ride breaks down. This time, Oscar is the strong one, looking after his Sweet Charity whilst they are stuck, suspended in the air. At the Fan-Dango club, a new girl, Rosie, is attracting all the customers (Big Spender [reprise]) causing Charity to realise she has let lif pass her by. She quits her job and, out on the street, considers what her alternatives will be (Where Am I Going). Knowing he doesn't have a telephone, she sends Oscar a telegram asking him to meet her at Barney's Chile Hacienda where she intends to tell him the truth about her occupation. Oscar meets her there, but as she struggling to find the words to tell him her secret he reveals that he already knows - having seen her entering the club one night and following her inside. He tells her he doesn't care and asks her to marry him. Charity is elated (I'm a Brass Band) as they plan to leave town to start a new life together. She returns to the club to say goodbye to the girls. The place appears deserted but they have prepared a surprise party for her and suddenly all jump out. Even boss Herman joins in and wishes Charity all she hoped for (I Love to Cry At Weddings). Oscar arrives and the girls warn him to take good care of her. They leave but as they are passing the lake in the park Oscar tells Charity that he cannot go through with the wedding, he has tried but cannot stop thinking about the other men she has been with. He abandons here there, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her life and start again (I'm The Bravest Individual [reprise]).