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Charity Starts at JYM
14th May 2008
By Chris Hughes
 Sweet
Charity is a quintessential 60’s show with an upbeat flavor,
intertwined with a peculiar love story and refreshingly different
characters. The Broadway versions have starred such celebs as
Christina Applegate and Molly Ringwald in the title role, but the
show is undoubtedly known for two things, above all else… fantastic
Bob Fosse choreography and the popular musical number, Big Spender.
Sweet Charity
brings back fond memories for me, being my first show with
Whitehorse, almost 10 years ago. The kitsch 60’s chore, the massive
role of Charity and the offbeat storyline all come flooding back
like a surreal dream. Now, JYM Theatre Company is having a go at
this seldom-performed musical.
JYM Theatre Co. brings together Jewish people who share the
all-consuming love of musical theatre. Since the company’s first
production, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dream coat six years
ago, they have etched out a solid reputation within the community;
and the company continues to grow from strength to strength.
The storyline
of Sweet Charity is woven around an eternal optimist (Charity), a
seedy dance hall and a strange love affair in which two unlikely
characters are drawn together in a sometimes comedic, occasionally
tragic plot. Sweet Charity has grit and clever humor encapsulated in
occasionally forgettable music and incredibly memorable
choreography.
Sweet Charity
is rarely on anyone’s “Audition Hit List”, but this show is
definitely worth seeing and definitely worth auditioning for, due to
its unusual and refreshing take on an unlikely love story and it’s
60’s charm. There are also the two artistically challenging roles of
Oscar, Charity and a fantastic cameo for Big Daddy, who gets the
show’s other big number “The Rhythm of Life”.
The role of
Charity is possibly one of the most challenging leading female roles
around. I mean, she’s on stage for practically the entire show and
has the arduous task of bringing a frustrating, yet admirable
character to life. Charity refuses to act on the notion of common
sense, but yet, she remains eternally hopeful in love, in spite of
insurmountable odds that suggest she should give up. From the
audience’s point of view, she could border on being annoying or
tedious, if she’s presented as a one dimensional, naive moron.
However, if one can delicately interweave Charity’s underlying charm
and wit (afforded to her by a terrific script ), then she can be a
enchantingly interesting. It’s no mean feat to be able to pull a
complex character like Charity off and I tip my hat to anyone who’s
willing to take her on!
We caught up
with JYM’s Charity, Paula Kofmansky to talk about how she’s tackling
playing an unlikely hero.
I see Charity
as a woman with layers and layers of complexities. She comes across
as naïve and stupid because of the way that she handles situations
and never learns from her mistakes. Yet she is so clever in that she
is always looking for new opportunities. She is so wonderful because
she doesn't allow difficulties in her life to dampen her upbeat,
positive personality; she always puts on a brave face.
Charity is
possibly one of the biggest female roles around, so just how
physically demanding is it?
Well, I think I'm doing fine but some people may call that
denial… I haven't slept in about a week and haven't been to class
for a while! I won't lie and say it's a breeze, it's taken over my
life, but I'm really enjoying it – it's such an addictive role!
Paula is a
relative newcomer to the theatre, but she’s relishing the
opportunity to play such a challenging role. Coming from a strong
“legit” theatre background, Paula has performed in an eclectic group
of shows, everything from Chekhov to Australian material like “Away”
by Michael Gow.
 I've
been acting and singing for as long as I can remember but my passion
for acting developed when I was about 12. I had the coolest drama
teacher! She was this outrageous hippy and she really got all the
kids inspired with all her whacky stories and games.
Let’s
hope she wasn’t too whacky! We all know how those hippies can get
once they fire up the old peace pipe. What's it like working with
JYM? What's the mood there like?
Working with JYM is such a joy. Every single person in the cast and
crew are supportive and positive, which is very important as it
makes the environment comfortable and open. We have a couple of
clowns in the cast and it just adds so much to the fun atmosphere of
rehearsals. Nobody takes themselves too seriously which is great!
Tell us
one thing about yourself that most people don't know.
Unfortunately I'm a very open book so there's nothing that people
really don't know about me…but for the sake of the question, most
people don't know that I speak Russian, which proves to be very
helpful when I'm bored and feel like eavesdropping on old ladies on
trains…is that weird?
I guess.. Particularly if you live in Russia. What show are you
looking to audition for next?
I'm not looking for a show to audition for yet, I think I need to
try to focus on surviving through the next month! One show that does
appeal to me actually is the 'Short But Not So Sweet' festival (a
take on the Short and Sweet festival) so I'll try to put my name
down for that one. 
What's on your i-pod at the moment?
Oh! That reminds me I have to fix my itunes, my i-pod hasn't been
updated in so long! I generally listen to MIA, Sia, Michael Jackson,
Jeff Buckley, Missy Higgins, Jimi Hendrix, The Killers, Silverchair…I
have eclectic taste!
The ending from Sweet Charity is a strange one. Do you think it's
odd that a fairly meek character like Oscar suddenly snaps and turns
on charity, seemingly from nowhere?
I agree it is a very strange ending. I think Oscar had a certain
neurosis in him from the moment Charity meets him in the lift. It
doesn't surprise me that Oscar does turn on her; he is a ticking
bomb with so many issues! His insecurities push him over the edge
and he never lets Charity balance him out because he's afraid of
being happy. It's quite tragic.
There was actually an alternate ending for the show written for the
movie. Oscar leaves Charity. Oscar starts to go crazy in his
apartment and feeling suffocated, goes for a walk in the park. He
sees Charity on their bridge in
Central Park
and thinks she is going to jump. Racing to rescue her, he trips and
falls in the water. Charity jumps in after him, but can't swim so
Oscar rescues her. Oscar realizes Charity is the only breath of
fresh air in his life, proposes again, and she accepts. Fosse
thought the ending was too corny. I can see his point, but the
ending the way it is just comes out of absolutely nowhere and just
doesn’t make any sense to me.
I used to play in a band… A bad wedding band, and when we wanted to
get off stage for a beer, or change a song that we’d let go on for
too long, the pianist would just yell out at the top of his voice
“End it! End it! Eeeeeennnnnddddd It!!!!!!”, begging like in injured
animal to be put out of it’s misery. We literally killed the song in
it’s tracks because we couldn’t be bothered rehearsing a proper
ending. In that final scene of Sweet Charity, it’s as if I can hear
him yelling, “End it! End it! Eeeeeennnnddd It!!!!!” all over again.
It truly has to be seen to be believed.
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