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SWEET CHARITY. Dancer Gwen Verdon is dazzling as the doxy with a heart of gold, and Bob Fosse's brilliant choreography is as refreshing as a spring shower. But Neil Simon's book is a discouraging reminder that every silver lining must have its cloud.
CACTUS FLOWER. While the French venerate Venus, they pay delicate court to Cupid as well, and delight in mixing a modicum of mischief in their amour. This sex farce imported from Paris is amusing proof that they do indeed preach well what they practice.
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, but you can enjoy it while you have it, is the moral of this madness. The hilarious Sycamore family was first introduced to Broadway 30 years ago by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and it's nice to have them back in the neighborhood.
RECORDS
Hot Singles
SLOOP JOHN B (Capitol). The Beach Boys hoist sail to the tune of a seaworthy old chanty with a trim new arrangement by Brian Wilson that starts off rolling softly but soon has everyone swinging. The lads play it safe on the flip side with a Beatle-sounding You're So Good to Me about a doll who is kind and small. The music satisfies, but the words ("You take my hand, and you understand . . .") don't quite have the grip of I Want to Hold Your Hand.
DIONNE WARWICK: MESSAGE TO MICHAEL (Scepter). "I wish someone would tell me where I fit in," this pop-gospel-rhythm-and-blues singer often asks. Dionne needn't fret; Hal David's lyrics, Bert Bacharach's music, and her own choir-loft wail fit together like Hallelujah and revival meetings.
LEANING ON THE LAMP POST (MGM) finds Peter Noone, the Lancashire-toned singer of Herman's Hermits, waiting "in case a certain little lady comes by." Clearly the quintet is also waiting for another gold platter to add to their collection of five, with some help expectable from their just released movie Hold On (theme song on flip side).
THE GREENWOODS: PLEASE DON'T SELL MY DADDY NO MORE WINE (Kapp). These five lads and two lasses do folk music with a pop sound. The present item is the bluesy lament of a sweet young chick whose daddy used to buy her pretty dresses and who now wears only threadbare hand-me-downs 'cause Poppa spends all his dough in Old Joe's Friendly Barroom.
NANCY SINATRA: HOW DOES THAT GRAB YOU, DARLIN'? (Reprise). Nancy gets tired of waiting around for her wandering tom, and scats. Fans who bought 1,000,000 copies of her first hit record, These Boots Are Made for Walkin', are sure to go for this livelier-stepping tune. Her boots may not be seven-league, but Frankie's little girl is making it in her own time.
THE MAMA'S AND THE PAPA'S: MONDAY, MONDAY (Dunhill). The popular quartet is going strong all week, any week, with this understated soul crusher by John Phillips, the group's lead guitarist. The baritone and tenor make a good backdrop for the female voices, and the sawing strings add the right touch of heartache.
THE McCOYS: COME ON LET'S GO (Bang). Record No. 4 by this male quartet from Indiana. Although the rock beat nearly drowns out the words, you get the message loud and clear—a call to spooning, not traveling.