A musical comedy, “Sweet Charity,” based on Neil Simon's book, has won nine Tony Awards since its Broadway premiere over 50 years years ago. Originally choreographed and directed by the famed Bob Fosse, the musical centers on the experiences of Charity Hope Valentine, a nightclub hostess stranded in the bowels of New York City, in the 1960s. Subtle feminist motifs emerge as Valentine's and her friends' work descriptions are expressed in the musical. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Valentine and her friends must chat, dance and smile at the "big spenders" at the nightclub. Women are grabbed and objectified by the club's "big spenders" and dream of escaping these circumstances. However, Charity remains naive about the men she is involved with throughout the musical. The cast enthusiastically portrays the individuality of each of their characters. . This is especially true in the dance number “Rhythm of Life,” which ultimately turns the mood into a fantastical, whimsical scene. Charity continues to perform among the other talented dancers and singers. Additionally, we continue to see gender dynamics in this issue as “Big Daddy” drives the scene. As we close the first act, we experience the full rhythm of Patti Garwood's orchestra. The orchestra also pairs the big moat dance numbers perfectly. The lighting highlighted the dancers at their height, accentuating the dazzling aura desired by the director. I wouldn't say Valentine has "woke up" as they say. Although I mentioned how I had seen feminist motifs exemplified in some scenes, Valentine's character in itself should be considered pre-feminist. At the end of the musical, Charity is pushed into a lake by her boyfriend, Oscar, who ultimately cannot love her back due to his profession. The final scene offers no tangible analysis of sexuality, sex work, and/or sex workers that would otherwise make it a pro-feminist musical. The closing of the show feels as if Charity is being punished for wanting to give up her lifestyle for an exclusive relationship with Oscar. The play does not celebrate Charity's promiscuity as an archetypal rebel against the status quo, but rather deems her unworthy of love due to her past with numerous lovers. Please note: this is just an example. Get a customized document from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay I would recommend this musical to everyone who appreciates dance and upbeat performances in the style of the 60s. In this particular performance Anne Horak plays Charity Hope Valentine and Alex Goodrich plays Oscar Lindquist. Outstanding performances go to Natonia Monet as Helene and the entire ensemble cast. Directed and choreographed by Alex Sanchez and scored by Cy Coleman, Sweet Charity runs through October 28 at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire, Illinois..