Guys and Dolls

I think this is probably the best sung show I have seen Bradford Players perform for quite some time.  The harmonies in the opening numbers from the men’s chorus and principals were very well balanced and a delight to hear.  ​The prior training from Deborah and her assistant Debbie Cross was well remembered and under the guest baton of Ian Sapiro that first impression was not allowed to slip throughout the show.

The opening scene over the overture was well designed and implemented, being a street scene of New York, leading up to the meetings of the guys planning to hold a crap game under the very nose of the eagle eyed Lt Brannigan of the New York Police Department(Richard Barran).  The Salvationists are trying so hard to reform people but without success  and so the story unfolds.

The leading ladies Sarah Brown (Helen Galagher) and Adelaide (Ysanne Morrill) played their parts beautifully, particularly Adelaide who really made the most of her cold and the lack of commitment from her beloved Nathan Detroit (Jonnie Taylor).  Part of one of the bets was that Sky Masterson (Paul Matthews) would take Sarah to Cuba, but falling in love with her, welched on the bet and denied that it had ever happened.  Big Jule (Craig Deacon) arrived and insisted on a crap game, under his own rules.  Nathan manages to turn the plot around and Big Jule, having lost the bet, means that all the guys have to go to the Salvation Mission meeting that night.  Here we have the two most well remembered of the songs from this show ‘Luck be a Lady’ sung by Paul Matthews, notes, diction and meaning so well expressed and ‘Sit down you’re rocking the boat’ by Nicely Nicely (Mickey May).  What a fantastic performance that was with the chorus backing in full harmony and some very tricky choreography thrown in.

The song I remember most however was the very sincere and gentle, ‘More I cannot wish you’ sung by Arvide Abernathy (Roger Butterfield) to his granddaughter Sarah.  Well sung, perfect diction and with so much sincerity that I am sure there were quite a few tears among the ladies in the audience.  The show cleverly finished, with all the guys having won their correct doll, with practically the same street scene that had started the evening.

The Dolls, congratulations to the dancers on the strip scene dance in Act II, all the seams on their fishnet tights were immaculately straight and in fact all the costumes looked attractive and well fitting with no slip shod moments from anyone.

The scenery was good but perhaps some of the scene changes could have been a little slicker but I am being very picky!

This was a super show, well performed and well appreciated by the audience.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.