Becky Kerner
Writing for Journalists section 005
News Story Assignment
Word count: 592
Temple Theatres just finished a three-week run of Sweet Charity, its first musical of the
year, at Temple’s Tomlinson Theater on Main Campus.
The play is “a story of a girl who wants to be loved,” as projected on a backdrop at the
show’s start. It is based on the screenplay of Nights of Cabiria by Federico Fellini, Tullio
Pinelli, and Ennio Plaiano. Over the years it has won several honors, including three Tony
Awards.
The show is about Charity Valentine, or Sweet Charity, who is continuously taken
advantage of throughout her life. She and her coworkers at the Fandango Ballroom dream of
luxury. After many trials throughout the story, she thinks she has finally found love. But the
story continues to take unexpected turns.
Jennifer Schumann, a communications major who volunteers at Tomlinson Theater, said
of the plot, “The show is very hopeful and makes people happy to see that others can go on and
prosper after facing adversities.”
“I like that it showed the audience that when someone has a bad background, they can
still start new,” said Tina Engelbart, 52-year-old former pet sitter.
As the lights came up in the black box theater, the audience saw one actress on a small
black stage. Because of director Peter Reynolds’s vision, minimal scenery and props were used.
It was the job of Maria Konstantinidis, who played Charity, and the other actors to keep the
audience engaged.
“Maria performed in all of her high school plays and is involved with the Walnut Street
Theater,” said Greg Engelbart, a friend. She is a sophomore at Temple’s School of
Communications and Theater. Engelbart believes she will be involved with Temple’s plays until
she graduates in 2012.
The show, which began its run on September 22, ended on October 10. “Everyone is sad
to see it end, but the energy tonight was great!” said Schumann.
“I have seen [Sweet Charity] on Broadway. The enthusiasm was honestly better at
Temple,” agreed Nicole Loomis, a film major at Temple.
Attendees thought the show was charming and talent-filled. “I am so curious about what
is going to happen between [Charity] and Oscar. They left us at such a cliff hanger!” Gilg
Phanor, a student visiting from Kingsborough College in Brooklyn, N.Y., said during
intermission. “I can also really see the jump from high school to college performers, and that is
exciting.”
Engelbart recognized the hard work that the students put into the performance. “There
are lots of very talented students here with great voices. You also really have to be in shape to
be involved with something like this.”
According to Schumann, the cast had been rehearsing for several months.
Engelbart also felt the actors created strong emotional connections with the audience. “I
really felt for the girls [in the dance hall.] I wanted them to find a way out of their bad lives.”
Many attendees were surprised by the songs in the show because they had heard them
before, but did not know they were from Sweet Charity. “Hey Big Spender,” the jazzy and
promiscuous serenade from the dance hall hostesses, is on the top of that list.
Temple Theaters is currently celebrating its 41st anniversary season of theater. “I think
[Temple Theaters] chose Sweet Charity as their first play because this is a strong, classic
musical,” said Schumann.
As Temple Theatres moves toward its 42nd year of performances, it earns another round
of rave reviews. “This [was] a great opener for the season,” said Phanor. “It gives us a sample
and a reason to come back.”