Daphne Skinner, Emily Floyd, Bexie Archer and Ellie Woodman are in Sweet Charity.

In the intimate surroundings of the compact Ashton Theatre, the story will unfold of a girl named Charity who just wants to be loved…

It is the story of Charity Hope Valentine and has an intriguing opening as she is seen dancing through a park, carrying her shoulder bag and a heart tattooed on her arm.

She is meeting her boyfriend. She is smitten with him and has taken her life savings from the bank to buy furniture and a down payment for their love nest.

Full of dreams and hopes, she looks down at the lake and suggests they throw something in for good luck.

The young man complies, pushing Charity into the lake and stealing her bag.

A crowd soon gathers. The passers-by discuss her apparent drowning and at first are reluctant to do anything. Finally, they haul Charity out of the lake and the police arrive. Charity tries to convince everybody, including herself, that her boyfriend didn’t mean to do what he did.

Later in the story she falls into the lake once more and as she climbs out, soaked and dripping, she is surprised to find a ‘Good Fairy’ who has real wings and is all covered in tinsel-dust.

The fairy tells her ‘Tonight. It will all happen tonight.’ This seems to make everything okay, and once more, full of hopes and dreams for the future, Charity goes on her merry way.

As the Good Fairy turns around, a sign on her back reads: ‘The Good Fairy – tonight at 8 pm on CBS’.

Does Charity finally meet the man of her dreams? Audiences at the Ashton Theatre, Shrewsbury School, are about to find out.

For Sweet Charity is Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society’s latest production starting on February 16 and running each night until the 20th when there will be a Saturday matinee and evening performance.

Rob Hutchings, David Williams and Emily Floyd in costume

The book is by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

Show director Andrew Sandilands is very pleased with the choice of the Ashton Theatre where he says every member of the audience will be able to see the production. “It has raked seating, in amphitheatre style, so that everyone will have a good view of the stage wherever they are sitting.

“It is a rousing show, with plenty of action and lots of good musical numbers including Big Spender, Rhythm of Life, I’m a Brass Band and I Love to Cry at Weddings’.

“We have a superb 13-piece orchestra plus conductor and some terrific dancing,” said Andrew.

“Choreographer Becky Frost has been a big success in what is her first show in the role and she’s had to tackle the ‘Rich Man’s Frug’ number which is very difficult for people who are not trained dancers.”

The stage set is comingfrom Rochdale, the costumes from Wolverhampton and wardrobe mistress Julia Browne is also making costumes for the Brass Band number.

Lesley Reynolds is painting a 1960’s pop art portrait of the show’s film star character, Vittorio Vidal; Tim Milsom is stage manager for the first time; Tom Mulliner, in his late teens, is lighting director and Andrew Hinton is theatre technician.

“We have a very good team which is working well together,” Andrew added.

Tickets are available from Theatre Severn on 01743 281281, priced £12.

For the evening performances on Tuesday February 16 and matinee on Saturday February 20, tickets are £10.