Guys and Dolls

There is currently a huge appetite for the familiar and well-loved in musical theatre and the atmosphere from the moment that you walked through the doors at Stourbridge Town Hall for Tinkers Farm Opera’s production of Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls” there was a feeling of cosy and excited anticipation. The well-known tunes were swimming around in people’s minds and the sheer air of knowing that you were in for a great night out was palpable. I am delighted to say that all ambitions were realised and more! From the moment that the orchestra struck up the overture, in the capable hands of the talented Simon Wilkinson, we knew that tonight was going to be a little special.

To the musical theatre aficionado, this Broadway fable is fondly held in their hearts of many. During the overture, the familiar Runyonland characters were displayed before us, all expertly portraying the various New York high life and low life. This segued into the familiar introduction to ‘Fugue For Tinhorns’ and we are introduced to some of the key protagonists, Tyrone Howell’s Nicely Nicely Johnson, Luke Plimmer’s Benny Southstreet and Raymond Turrell’s Harry the Horse, all giving a spirited rendition and to quote the betting parlance, we were off! The premise of the show is simple, the local gangsters need a venue for their crap game, but the local Save-a-Soul Mission is intent on getting rid of these gamblers from the streets. The leading fixer,  Nathan Detroit, played by Tony Newbould, extracting every comic inch out of this charmingly engaging character and thoroughly browbeaten by Bethan Siviter-Coupland’s Miss Adelaide, giving a barnstorming and endearing performance throughout, is charged with finding the venue as it just so happens that Richard Cooper’s Sky Masterson, expertly characterised as the laid back yet sharp as a knife hero of our tale, is in town, a gambler whose reputation goes before him and who has a reputation for laying (and winning) unusual bets. Nathan bets Sky that he cannot take the saviour of the Mission, Miss Sarah Brown, lovingly portrayed in a stellar performance by Gabby Baldwin, to Havana. Nathan thinks he is onto a sure-fire cert, but you can never underestimate Sky!

If Emma Harley’s imaginative and superbly executed direction and choreography were not enough to transport us to Runyonland, then the extremely accomplished actors and singers most certainly were. This show is packed to the rafters with incredible songs and the audience lapped them up - from Sarah and Skys’ haunting ‘I’ll Know’ to Adelaide’s tour de force with, ‘Adeleaide’s Lament’. From Nicely and Benny’s title song to Geoff Westwood as Arvide’s, beautiful ‘More I Cannot Wish You’, but it is the show pieces that wowed the audience Adelaide and the superbly choreographed and characterised Hot Boxers spirited ‘A Bushel and a Peck’ and ‘Take Back Your Mink’, the ‘Crapshooters’ Dance’ followed by Sky and Gamblers in ‘Luck be a Lady’ and Nicely and the Company’s on the edge of showstopping ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’ were a triumph. 

When you then add in the glorious duets: Sarah and Sky’s delightful ‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’, Adelaide and Sarah’s ‘Marry the Man Today’ and Nathan and Adelaide’s ‘Sue Me’ – how can you not be totally immersed from start to finish in the amazing characters, witty dialogue and great entertainment? 
There were some great cameo roles calling for subtle and expert timing including Diane Hingley’s authoritarian yet twinkle in the eye General Cartwright, Tim Hodge’s perennially defeated Lt. Brannigan and Alex Catana’s excellent Big Jule.

With superbly efficient Stage Management in the hands of Steve Percy and his team and imaginative lighting by Going Dark Theatrical Services under the watchful eye of Dave Pittman as well as sound executed with tremendous dexterity when faced with a stage full of characters with solo lines, by Daniel Woodhall (DW Technical Services).

My thanks to everyone at Tinkers Farm for making me so welcome and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

 

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