Guys and Dolls

This is a musical I have lived with nearly all my life. I’ve been in it five times. One of my favourites and I always enjoy being asked to review it. Recently produced in London, an immersive production, unfortunately that couldn’t happen at the Central Theatre. So GDS made this Guys and Dolls as colourful as they could, mainly due to Tonia Plowman’s vision of costumes, and the video wall - it worked extremely well.

GDS’s Guys and Dolls directed by Francene Harris, choreographed by Jamie Knights and musical direction by Owen Mc Colgan at the Central theatre this week put me in Guys and Dolls mode again. With Owen’s exceptional orchestra of fifteen they filled the theatre with a wonderful all-round sound, as I would expect from Owen and Jamie’s delightful choreography on stage was performed perfectly by his set of mainly girl dancers. Guys and Dolls is heavy on men so obviously some of the girls depicted males.

GDS’s audition committee chose well with their leads, picking them for their talent at holding such large roles. Sarah Brown (Rachael Champ) and Sky Masterson (Joel Blundell) were teamed perfectly together, both having natural acting skills and big powerful voices to match, such a joy to watch. I liked their duet ‘I’ve never been in love before’ so lovely to watch this pair perform with so much dedication to their roles. Nathan Detroit (Lee Round) and Miss Adelaide (Georgia Waters) - Lee, a seasoned actor of GDS, gave us a dynamic characterisation of Nathan, Georgia’s portrayal of Miss Adelade was equally matched to Lee’s, good pairing, both shone in ‘Sue Me’. What a voice Georgia has so powerful...!! Nicely- Nicely Johnson (Joe Warrilow) along with Benny Southstreet (James Stacey) gave us comedy and bounced of each other, I Liked ‘Fugue for tinhorns’ along with Rusty Charlie (Stu Grace Hicks). Scott Highway as Big Julie: what a talent this man has for accents, and such good diction to go with it - a big performance from Scott. Also Harry the Horse in the capable hands of Conor Whittaker. Smaller supporting roles were well played, these being Tonia Plowman as General Cartwright, Barry Shyvers as Arvide, and seasoned actor Chas Alder as Lt Branigan.

I must mention the ensemble as sometimes they don’t get the accolades they deserve, these being: Maria, Emma, Charlotte, Jayne, Ellie, Willow, Jenna, Helena, Josie, Rhea, Zoe, Tom, Lily, Aimee, Harrison, Harry and dear Judy. 

This is only my opinion, but I thought the video screen worked well, but when in small mode, the stage seemed so empty, also when throwing dice…. Throw dice!! Also pretending to have props. Obviously, newspapers were missing off the stand, but Nathan was asked for a paper, and he pretended to give it and swap money. ‘Sit down you’re rocking the boat’: Such a well staged number, but it was set to the side diagonally, it lost its impact. Just small things but noticeable.

Notes for programme in future, good content, but white on black and small print impossible to read in the theatre.

Francene Harris, Director, you gave this Guys and Dolls new life, it being seventy-four years old this year. GDS you couldn’t have chosen better in Francene, one of the best directors in Medway. Along with Owen and Jamie you brought this Guys and Dolls to new heights in community theatre. Your vision paid off. Your cast should be very proud of you, and you of them. Thank you and GDS for inviting me and my guest to witness an excellent evening in the theatre.

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