Sweet Charity

With all the calamities that occur daily and are factually reported by you, how refreshing to read Charles Perry's article "Chocolate, Aztec-Style" (April 22). Being a chocolate lover, I didn't know the origin of this product and its refinement as we know it today. KAREL JAUKA Santa Monica

A photographer is trying to figure out how best to shoot David Babani when the 32-year-old British producer of the Broadway revivals of "La Cage Aux Folles" and "A Little Night Music" puckishly offers a suggestion. "Can't you strap me into a harness and suspend me between the two theaters?" he says, sitting in the lobby of the Longacre Theatre — where "La Cage" opened Sunday to strong reviews — directly opposite the Walter Kerr, home of "A Little Night Music." "You could Photoshop it out later.

"Sweet Charity" will go on -- but standby Charlotte d'Amboise will open the musical on Broadway, not its injured star, Christina Applegate, according to producer Barry Weissler. Weissler, the veteran producer of such hit revivals as "Chicago," "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Grease," made the announcement as the musical moved to Boston, where it begins performances Friday with D'Amboise for a 10-day run. It begins preview performances at New York's Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4.

President Obama wants to take money away from charities. Which is awesome. Only he doesn't go far enough. His proposal, which Republicans and Democrats both hate, would force rich people to deduct only 28% of their charitable donations, instead of 35%. This change would have two obvious disadvantages: It's boring and requires math. A simpler solution would be to eliminate everyone's tax break for donations. Now, I like charities.

President Obama wants to take money away from charities. Which is awesome. Only he doesn't go far enough. His proposal, which Republicans and Democrats both hate, would force rich people to deduct only 28% of their charitable donations, instead of 35%. This change would have two obvious disadvantages: It's boring and requires math. A simpler solution would be to eliminate everyone's tax break for donations. Now, I like charities.

"Sweet Charity," the charming, campy, unlucky Broadway show starring Christina Applegate, will close Dec. 31 when Applegate's scheduled run ends. Producers had negotiated with Britney Spears about taking over the lead role on Broadway. "She was quite interested," producer Edwin Schloss said about the 24-year-old pop singer, who had a son in September. "But in terms of her schedule and the baby it was too complicated."

The musical "Sweet Charity," hobbled by star Christina Applegate's broken foot and weak ticket sales, has canceled its planned run on Broadway. The $7.5-million production had been slated to begin preview performances in New York next week. But Applegate broke her right foot during a March 11 performance in Chicago, and Broadway veteran Charlotte d'Am- boise took over for the show's 10-day run in Boston. The final performance was Sunday.

When the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera placed its ads announcing the 1985 summer season, two names were prominently featured for "Sweet Charity" (opening July 16): Debbie Allen as star and Bob Fosse as director. Allen, whose following and reputation emanate chiefly from her appearance in the TV series "Fame," seems a noteworthy choice for Neil Simon's hard-luck dance hall girl.

It's back -- and so is its star, Christina Applegate. The problem-plagued revival of "Sweet Charity," which last week canceled its Broadway engagement after Applegate broke her foot and the show received tepid out-of-town reviews, will open May 4 in New York, two weeks later than originally planned, producer Barry Weissler said Tuesday. "Christina came to me and made the most deeply felt emotional plea," Weissler said in a telephone interview.

New York-based choreographer Judy Ann Bassing, winner of the San Diego Theater Critics Circle's 1987 choreography award, was in town recently to set the dances for Lawrence Welk's current production of "Sweet Charity," which runs through Nov. 5. It was Bassing's second crack at choreographing "Sweet Charity," and it meant a reunion with some show business cronies. "I did this show for Fiesta with Frank Wayne and our vocal director Herbert Hecht three years ago, so it was like old-home week here.

Since first produced more than 40 years ago, "Sweet Charity" has undergone an unfortunate metamorphosis from the sweetly sentimental to the downright treacly. Granted, Cy Coleman's music and Dorothy Fields' lyrics combine in some memorable standards ("If They Could See Me Now," "Big Spender") and certainly one can imagine the sheer excitement generated when Bob Fosse's original Tony-winning choreography was first performed.

When it comes time to close the time capsule on the 1960s, it's highly doubtful that "Sweet Charity" will make the cut. Based on the 1957 Fellini film "Nights of Cabiria," the 1966 Broadway musical featured beloved Broadway stalwart Gwen Verdon and a much-lauded staging by Bob Fosse. By the time the charmless 1969 film starring Shirley MacLaine came around, the musical was showing signs of spoilage.

DRESSED in a dark pantsuit and striking several poses, Molly Ringwald is doing her "Pretty in Black" thing as a photographer snaps away. The bee-stung lips and freckles are less prominent than they were 20 years ago when she starred in "Pretty in Pink," and her waifish figure is curvier. But the signature red hair still makes her stand out in a crowd.

TODAY MUSEUMS A sampling of Dresden Since 1995, the J. Paul Getty Trust has partnered with the Dresden State Museums on Dresden publication and conservation projects. "From Caspar David Friedrich to Gerhard Richter: German Paintings From Dresden" brings the collaboration to L.A. by focusing on the Romantic paintings of Friedrich and the postwar work of Richter. The exhibition also features other German paintings on loan from the Galerie Neue Meister alongside works from the Getty's collection.

"Sweet Charity," the charming, campy, unlucky Broadway show starring Christina Applegate, will close Dec. 31 when Applegate's scheduled run ends. Producers had negotiated with Britney Spears about taking over the lead role on Broadway. "She was quite interested," producer Edwin Schloss said about the 24-year-old pop singer, who had a son in September. "But in terms of her schedule and the baby it was too complicated."

"Sweet Charity" New Broadway cast (DRG) * * 1/2 A Broadway revival of "Sweet Charity" was off, then on again after headliner Christina Applegate broke a foot during out-of-town tryouts. The show then got smacked by the New York theater press and won none of the three Tony Awards for which it was nominated. Yet through the tumult, the project seemed to follow the example of its central character, resilient dancehall rent-a-girl Charity Hope Valentine.

There was a time--1965--when Neil Simon had three hit shows on Broadway: "Barefoot in the Park," "The Odd Couple" and the musical "Sweet Charity." The last of those, "Sweet Charity," is the current production at Moorpark College, under the direction of Les Wieder. Charity Hope Valentine calls herself a "social consultant"; in fact, she's a dance-hall girl who tends to fall in love too easily and too often.

THE Big Story of the Broadway season, which will be celebrated tonight at the 57th annual Tony Awards, demonstrates the special delirium of the Great White Way: Consider Christina Applegate and "Sweet Charity," the musical revival that has been revived more times on the way to its opening last month than a heart patient on "ER." A star's broken foot, lukewarm reviews, tepid box office and an official closing.

It's back -- and so is its star, Christina Applegate. The problem-plagued revival of "Sweet Charity," which last week canceled its Broadway engagement after Applegate broke her foot and the show received tepid out-of-town reviews, will open May 4 in New York, two weeks later than originally planned, producer Barry Weissler said Tuesday. "Christina came to me and made the most deeply felt emotional plea," Weissler said in a telephone interview.