My Last Show... At Drama School: Libby McGarry Talks 'Sweet Charity'

A little over a year ago, the then 3rd-year Musical Theatre students at Italia Conti put on their production of Sweet Charity. The show tells the tale of a young girl (Charity) who always looks on the bright side of life despite working in a rundown dance hall and having a pretty terrible love life. Determined to find love, the show follows Charity’s fight to succeed in the dating game, finding love in the stickiest of situations. Brimming with big musical numbers and standout performances from leading lady Amy Jade, and the duo of Libby McGarry as Helene and Hannah Brewin as Nickie – the show featured plenty of entertaining moments. One audience member even stated: “Watching Sweet Charity confirmed to me why people love Musical Theatre. The smaller stage and audience space, the talented up-and-comers, and the complete atmosphere and buzz. It was a great performance I would have paid to watch again, highlighting how lucky the Musical Theatre industry is to have such talented up-and-coming stars.”

In this edition of our My Last Show series, the wonderfully talented Libby McGarry reflects on her experience playing Helene in Sweet Charity, creating an "unmatched" chemistry with her fellow cast mates, and her biggest takeaway from her final bows at drama school. Enjoy!

What was your favourite thing about the creative process for Sweet Charity?

“My favourite thing about the rehearsal process was learning and working with the creative team, as they weren’t linked to Conti. So it really gave us a taste of how people who are constantly working in the industry are going to expect us to work and the pace to do so, which I thoroughly enjoyed doing as it further assured me that I would work well with people similar to that in the industry.”

If you could play another character in the show, who would you like to play and why?

“If I could play another character in the show, I would definitely pick Charity. I would pick Charity as she was a complete contrast to my character, and it would be fun to do the same show, but with more bubbly, outgoing characteristics as I feel Charity is very similar to me as a person, more than Helene was. Although I enjoyed the challenge of playing Helene as it meant I could really play someone very different to me.”

We know the rehearsals processes are long and sometimes frustrating. But is there a moment in particular that made you love rehearsing, and what about that moment was so enjoyable?

“When rehearsing for the number ‘Something Better Than This’, this was a rehearsal period that I particularly enjoyed as it was a number that needed the most detail and energy as it was only 3 of the leads on the stage for the whole 5-minute number. So, if not executed well, it could have looked lazy and sloppy. This number took the most work to clean and build up stamina for, but the one I most enjoyed doing due to the adrenaline boost we received at the end of the number.”

What is it like having another cast with someone else playing your character?

“I was originally nervous before going into the rehearsal process of having an opposite as I knew from the previous set of shows how people could compare different people playing the role. However, I had a positive experience as I felt we both learned and improved from each other, helping each other out if we didn’t quite grasp how a line was meant to be said or a movement executed.”

Some have said that your cast appeared to have better chemistry, and it felt like you all gelled very well when watching the show. Why do you think you all clicked so well?

“I feel like it was important to create those bonds and friendships with the cast, which I feel my cast was excellent at doing. Through getting along and supporting each other as people meant we got along and enjoyed acting with one another, making our chemistry an unmatched one.”

If there was one moment in the show you could change - what would it be, and how would you change it?

“I would have loved if I could have participated more in the powerful ensemble dance numbers, such as ‘Rhythm Of Life’ or ‘The Frug’ as these songs were iconic in the show and high energy dance is one of my favourite styles. But due to my character being a lead, it meant I couldn’t do this originally, so this would be something I’d change.”

What will your lasting memory of Sweet Charity be, and what was your biggest takeaway from doing the show?

“My biggest takeaway from the show is that I can successfully play a lead. Throughout my 3 years of training, I was always under the impression that I would always just be in the ensemble. However, Sweet Charity changed this outlook for me, and I realised how much I enjoyed bringing a character to life and, more importantly, that I was successful in doing so. The show gave me a greater confidence in myself that I will always take to professional jobs and auditions in the future.”