ARE you ready to fall in love?

Charity Hope Valentine will steal you heart this June at Ilkley Playhouse.

Sweet Charity is a musical full of sparkle and verve; at its heart is Charity, a dancer at the Fandango Ballroom, New York.

She is as wide-eyed and optimistic as they come but sadly, for one so full of love, unlucky in it.

The zinging script, by Neil Simon, follows the ups and downs of Charity’s love life.

The writing is witty and well-paced; each character is affectionately drawn, and it is this intimacy with the key players that takes you straight into the heart of the characters and the story.

Heightening the intimacy is the cosy setting of the Wharfside Theatre, where it almost feels like the cast are performing in the comfort of your living room (apt, as Charity begins at home).

Terrible jokes aside, this helps make the play all the more infectious, and the atmosphere all the more palpable.

The songs, including Big Spender, Rhythm of Life, If My Friends Could See Me (and more besides), will wrap you up and give you a great big squeeze.

You’ll feel the love long after your journey home!

The energy bubbling through the piece also echoes the period in which Sweet Charity is set: the 60s era of hope and optimism, before the cynicism of the 70s.

At the time Sweet Charity pushed the boundaries for characters in musicals, particularly women, who are depicted as confident, open and modern.

Like all good stories there is a bittersweet bite to balance the joy, and the characters and plot are all the richer for it.

An engaging story needs accomplished actors who are also great singers, and this production has both aplenty.

It’s a bold and brassy story that needs big talent to match and Joanna Clark and Mark Simister, to name just the leads, are outstanding along with the rest of the cast.

If you’ve never been to a musical, let the sweetness of Sweet Charity entice you in.

Sweet Charity runs from June 4 to 16. Tickets are singing and dancing out of the door, so don’t leave it till the second week of the production to book yours!

Tickets for all events and productions can be found at www.ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk or by calling 01943 609 539.