KEY POINTS:
Any disgruntled NZ Idol contestants hoping to see Jackie Clarke out of her depth in the Auckland Theatre Company production of Sweet Charity will be sorely disappointed.
The original story of a tart with a heart of gold looking for love in New York City, Sweet Charity demands a lot from its leading lady.
She has to be able to belt out big Broadway numbers, dance like a professional hoofer and be endearing and vulnerable - all while carrying a show that is big on tunes and small on story.
There was probably never any doubt that the singing personality and former NZ Idol judge has the singing chops for Sweet Charity but the good news is that Jackie Clarke delivers in all areas.
Her Charity is sweet and sad with a kookie charm reminiscent of Shirley MacLaine's lovable film portrayal of the same character.
Jackie's star turn is all the more impressive as at times she seems cast adrift on a bare stage lacking in theatrical razzle dazzle to really make her shine.
Most notable was I'm a Brass Band which should have been a triumph but instead felt flat as the exuberance of the music and performances were in contrast to the empty stage and low-energy lighting.
Lighting designer David Eversfield uses everything from the traditional stage lights and mirror balls to candles and novelty glow balls in his lighting design.
At times he creates some moody tableaux but a musical needs high-energy lighting and he needs to borrow some of the tricks of a rock concert to really assist the performers in exciting the audience.
Sweet Charity is not a particularly feel-good musical with its downbeat ending and in this production it seems the design team has mirrored the downward story path with set and lighting that gets more pared down and simple as the show progresses.
This design decision is not particularly satisfying for an audience as it means all the memorable moments are in the first act.
Early highlights included Hey Big Spender with its clever use of acrobatic ropework in the choreography, the African-safari themed If My Friends Could See Me Now, and the nightclub instrumentals Rich Man's Frug, The Aloof and The Heavyweight where the purple lighting, costumes and set created a perfect '60s hipster scene.
Other enjoyable aspects of this production were Georgia Duder's ballsy performance as Nickie, Charity's friend and fellow nightclub hostess; and the host of character parts played by Stephen Butterworth who stood out from the ensemble and at times stole the limelight from the leads.
The live band is also a highlight. Musical director John Gibson has brought together six highly experienced jazz musicians who work double time playing multiple instruments to create a full orchestral sound.
And with talents such as Alistair McMillan and Kingsley Melhuish, the brassy numbers are in safe hands.
Despite these positives and Clarke's star turn, Sweet Charity is missing that extra bit of theatre magic that makes for an unforgettable night out.
Visiting shows such as Dirty Dancing and Saturday Night Fever have set the standard for musical theatre in Auckland with slick performances and superior production values.
These shows probably have bigger budgets and longer rehearsal times but they provide a benchmark that this production will be compared with and overall it will be found wanting.
* When: Until December 16
