How was last Thursday in RCBC a sweet deal for me? Other than the free ice cream I drowned myself in, I also got to watch the press preview of Sweet Charity. Yeah, another musical, another revival. My rating: feisty, sweet, and very funny.

Sweet Charity premiered on Broadway in 1966. Adapted into a full-length film in 1969 and had several remakes on Broadway after, Manila has finally decided to revive this musical about a happy-go-lucky dance hall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine, who “runs her heart like a hotel” with guys checking in and out. After being pushed into the lake by her lover (supposedly), she meets an Italian movie star who still couldn’t get over the foxy girlfriend. Then Charity meets Oscar, a neurotic tax accountant, who almost made her believe that fairy tales do come true.

Director Robbie Guevara and assistant director Lorenz Martinez, together with the cast members Nikki Girl (Charity), Kris Lawrence (Oscar), Ciara Sotto (Helene), Shiela Valderrama-Martinez (Nickie), Sheree Bautista (Carmen), OJ Mariano (Vittorio Vidal/Daddy Brubeck), Miguel Faustmann (Herman), Angela Padilla (Ursula March) surprised me.

It was my first time to watch Sweet Charity onstage, so I had no idea how the songs would go (except for “Big Spender” which I heard a couple of years ago—but didn’t know what musical it was from). I wouldn’t say I’d listen to the songs for fun like how I listen to RENT, but I really did enjoy the snarling humor of Sweet Charity‘s story—so many witty lines I wish I came up with myself, characters I hope were my real friends, and catchphrases I would probably end up using in a conversation (fickle finger of fate). Everyone did justice to their respective parts (I absolutely love Ciara Sotto’s character), but it was Kris Lawrence (whom I thought would give a so-so performance) who blew us away—and to think this was his premiere as a theatre actor. So, kudos!

Sweet Charity runs from August 5 to 27—Friday 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. , Saturday 3:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.  and Sunday 4 p.m. For tickets and more information, call (632) 557-5860, 586-7105 or  (63) 917-5545560 or email info@9workstheatrical.com.—HITGIRL