THE story of a taxi dancer’s search for love will be told in Abingdon Operatic Society’s production of the musical Sweet Charity.

Charity Hope Valentine works at the seedy Fandango Ballroom in New York City where she’s regularly taken advantage of, always seeming to fall for the wrong man.

But then Charity meets the man of her dreams in the unlikely form of a shy accountant Oscar Lindquist who promises to love and cherish her.

But has Charity found the true happiness she yearns? You’ll have to see the show to find out.

With music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields and based on a book by Neil Simon, the society will be performing the show at the Amey Theatre, Abingdon School, in Park Road, from Monday, October 27, to Saturday, November 1.

Tara Hunter takes the lead role of Charity opposite Simon Blainey as Oscar in the production directed for the society by Joy Skeels.

Mark Denton is the musical director and Gemma Hough is the choreographer, as she was for the society’s last show, 42nd Street.

Tara told the Herald: “I am so excited to be playing leading lady Charity in Sweet Charity.

“It’s like a dream come true to be part of such a fantastic group in such a fun-filled show.”

The society’s chairman John Nye held out the prospect of some exciting sets for the show, saying: “We are very excited to present Sweet Charity.

“How will we get a lake, an elevator (lift) and a Ferris wheel into the Amey Theatre?”

He added: “Sweet Charity is great fun for the audience and cast alike with some immensely amusing comedy, great songs and terrific dancing.”

Although Charity’s story might be a bittersweet one, the show is still packed with many funny moments as she encounters, among others, the famous film star, Vittorio Vidal and his beautiful mistress Ursula (Dave Cousin and Cate Franklin) and and Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck (Kevin Pope), leader of the really very questionable Rhythm of Life Church.

And linking the action are songs and dance routines, including the well-known numbers Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, and The Rhythm of Life.

The show was famously directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse for Broadway, where it premiered in 1966. And the society’s show will include its own Fosse-inspired Frugathon — the Frug, for those of you who don’t remember it, being a Sixties’ dance fad that involved flipping hips and a kind of backstroke with the arms.

Since its Broadway premiere, the show has played to this day in numerous revivals on Broadway, in the West End and around the world.

Other members of the cast include Kate Wilkins and Kerry Callaghan as Nickie and Helene, Charity’s closest friends and fellow taxi dancers at the ballroom, Adrian Amstead as Herman, the ballroom’s owner and Charity’s boss, and Jenna Elliott as Rosie, the new dancer at the Fandango.

The show will be performed nightly at 7.30pm. Tickets can be booked online at the website: www.abingdonoperatic.co.uk and the society’s inquiry line is on 01235 834383.