Unless you’re a theatre geek like I am you probably have not been following the roller-coaster of the current production of Sweet Charity<\/i>, scheduled to open on Broadway next week. However, I have. Every day there has been some new news about it, and the story changes almost hourly. It’s a total Broadway cliffhanger, I tell ya!!<\/p>\n
So. Here’s the deal:<\/p>\n
— The revival Sweet Charity<\/i>, starring Christina Applegate, has been previewing in other cities, preparing itself for a Broadway run. It has been getting so-so reviews. But they decided to continue on to Broadway regardless of the reviews.<\/p>\n
— On March 11, in Chicago, Christina Applegate broke her foot during one of the dance numbers.<\/p>\n
— A flurry of New York Times<\/i> articles followed this event. What will happen? Will they cancel?<\/p>\n
— Then, on March 25, came this MASSIVE article in the Times<\/i> about Charlotte d’Amboise<\/a>, who was asked to step in to the lead role. She’s a total Broadway pro – who is a star in the theatre world – but who doesn’t have a big enough name to open a show. But since Applegate’s injury happened during an out-of-town run and not rehearsal, they needed someone who could come in, learn the songs, dances, and lines in a matter of 2 days. In short, they needed someone extraordinary. So they called in Charlotte.<\/p>\n — But the big question was: would they open the show with her in New York? Would Applegate be better in time? And if not … then … It amazes me, but Charlotte d’Amboise hasn’t been in the original <\/i>run of a show in New York. She’s the woman who picks up when the star is done with her contract, d’Amboise is the one who picks up the role and does it for YEARS. She, I might add, is the REAL pro. But to “originate” a role on Broadway – that’s what everyone really strives for. Even her, after having so much success!<\/p>\n — Then – on March 26, the day after that article came out, came the next article: “Sweet Charity canceling its Broadway run<\/a>“. And after I had spent all that TIME reading about the ups and downs of Charlotte d’Amboise, I felt upset for her. However, I understood the decision. The show was getting lukewarm reviews ANYway with Christina Applegate. Why bring it all the way to Broadway to be a bomb?<\/p>\n — And now, today, comes this article saying: “Sweet Charity is back on<\/a>!” My response after reading that article is, bluntly, “Christina Applegate is one classy dame”. The producers were afraid of opening with Charlotte d’Amboise (even though she’s a feckin’ VETERAN OF BROADWAY. grrr), and so were going to hold off the opening until Christina’s foot healed. Apparently, Applegate refused to let that happen. She begged and pleaded with them to open as planned, AND to open with Charlotte d’Amboise – and she would pick up the part whenever her foot was better. If you’re not picking up on the fact that this kind of behavior is so rare as to be almost unbelievable, then I have not done my job in telling this story. Most stars would say, “No, I have to open this show!” It’s those who OPEN in the show who get the reviews, those who OPEN in the show who “own” it … Christina Applegate has given that up, she has pretty much demanded that the show must go on with or without her.<\/p>\n Good for her. A classy act.<\/p>\n Now: the show STILL may bomb. And it might bomb even before Applegate’s foot heals (which is highly possible, judging from advance word – so who knows, maybe Christina Applegate is dodging a big ol’ bullet here.)<\/p>\n However it turns out in the end, I still think her behavior has been quite exemplary and professional. Impressive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Unless you’re a theatre geek like I am you probably have not been following the roller-coaster of the current production of Sweet Charity, scheduled to open on Broadway next week. However, I have. Every day there has been some new … Continue reading