Welcome to a new Wildcard Wednesday! This week, we’re paying tribute to Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse — subjects of an FX limited series currently being telecast (in April and May 2019) — by celebrating one of their seminal collaborations, Sweet Charity (1966), which boasts a book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman, and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
Naturally, no one has played Charity Hope Valentine better than its originator, Gwen Verdon. Here she is performing “If My Friends Could See Me Now” on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Juliet Prowse played the role in London (and her ’67 cast recording is worth checking out in addition to Verdon’s original — frankly, you can skip the movie), but the next big Broadway revival occurred in 1986 and starred Debbie Allen. She was understudied by Bebe Neuwirth and replaced by Ann Reinking, with Donna McKechnie headlining the ensuing national tour. For subscribers — with no commercial designs on this material whatsoever — who comment below to alert me of their interest, I’ll send a video of the 1998 one-night-only all-star benefit concert, which features five rotating charities — Verdon, Allen, Neuwirth, McKechnie, and Chita Rivera (who played the role in the 1967 national tour) — along with a great cast that includes Robert Goulet, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and John McMartin. As a taste, here’s McKechnie, Neuwirth, and Rivera with “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This.”
I’ll also throw in a video of Reinking, considered by many to be the finest Fosse dancer after Verdon, in the role. Here she is leading Neuwirth and Allison Williams in the same number.
Come back next week for our next Wildcard post! And stay tuned Monday for another musical theatre rarity!
Hi, Jackson—
Would love to see the benefit, thank you! I saw Debbie Allen’s turn as Charity when I was about 11, and she was enchanting. Her optimism seemed so poignant, even then.
Hi, Lee! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
I’d love to see the benefit video!!
Hi, Steve! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your AOL address.
I would love to see the Sweet Charity video! Thank you!
Hi, Kal! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
This is such a great musical, would love to see this special. Thanks .
Hi, Charles! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address for access to these videos (neither is a broadcast special).
Would love to see the benefit show
Hi, Bob! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Hi! Long time lurker, new commenter here. I would love to see the whole concert, as I was way too poor to afford a ticket back then.
Hi, Roy! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Please subscribe to this blog using your preferred email address — and be sure to confirm your subscription — and I will send it your way!
I would love to see the videos. Thanks.
Hi, Travis! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Yes please I would love the benfit video, I had it and lost it like so many other things. Merman in Gypsy, Angela in the LA production of Mame and Liza in Chicago when my harddrive crashed. I would love to have at least the benefit concert.
Hi, Brent! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
I’d love to see the benefit video! Thanks for sharing the Gwen video! I’m gonna be recreating the performance for a drag show soon.
Hi, Taylor! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Please subscribe to this blog using your preferred email address and I will send it your way!
Hello. I’d like to request all video mentioned in the above post.
Thank you!
Hi, F.R.! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your sascholar address.