If only Bob Fosse could see them now.
On April 15, members of the Sachem High School East Drama Club will debut their rendition of Sweet Charity, a musical filled with frug delight.
The storyline revolves around a young woman named Charity Hope Valentine who works as a "dancer-for-hire" at the Fandango Ballroom. Wrestling with constant disappointments, she endures wistful moments of love gone wrong, not to mention a star struck encounter with a famous movie star that quickly turns awkward.
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Even after her mild-mannered fiancé, Oscar Lindquist, breaks off their engagement when he realizes he can't get over her risqué profession, Charity lives up to her middle name and remains hopeful.
Portraying the habitually optimistic heroine is the talented Heather Wadler, a senior at Sachem East. Wadler, who has been in a local production of "A Chorus Line," also participates in other community theater, going back as far as 2005 where she was part of the children's ensemble at the Patchogue Gateway Theater's Holiday Spectacular.
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Wadler's leading man, Tyler A. Boyle, who plays Oscar, is another seasoned actor and choreographer. Boyle, who is also a senior, was nominated for a STARS (Student Theatre Arts Recognition Scholarship) award last year in the Leading Male Performer in a Revue category for his role in Smokey Joe's Cafe. Overall, the play was nominated for 12 STARS awards.
None of this would be possible without the people behind the scenes, mostly the dedicated faculty like director Ken Dobbins and co-assistant director Regina Talento. Veteran Jean Sorbera, a retiree from the Sachem district, is the one to praise for bringing Fosse's distinct choreography, such as the Rich Man's Frug, to Sachem East's stage. One of the most extraordinary qualities of Sweet Charity is the dancing, which co-assistant director Erin Regan says is very unique compared to most musicals.
Along with the jazzy eccentricity of its dancing, the audience will be treated to Sweet Charity's famous music score. The actors will belt out well-known tunes like "Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now."
Go support the Sachem East Drama Club as they revive this revival with some local magic.
Sweet Charity will run from April 15 until April 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.
