Guys and Dolls

A trip to see Settle Amateur Operatic Society perform at the Victoria Hall in Settle is always an event in my diary that I look forward too. Combine this with one of my favourite fifties musicals, then an evening at the 'oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York'  has the potential to be complete.

Damon Runyon's characters and their language on the page, are a delight to read.. Transporting them to the stage is no easy matter.  

The show sets its store out right from the beginning. That busy Broadway street scene leading straight into Fugue For Tinhorns. Get this right and the standard is set for the rest of the evening.

For this production credit must go to the director who decided that a fairly plain open playing stage area with minimal but appropriate stage sets was the way to proceed. Absolutely right. Audiences can work out the story plotline without all the inbuilt delays that can occur with using traditional scenery for the many recurring scenes. This show has 16 scenes and the approach used, allowed the story to flow without those seemingly endless blackouts that we have all seen over the years at many venues.

From a technical point of view the production delivered. Swift scene changes, subtle lighting states and good sound levels.

The company put on an enthusiastic performance that the audience enjoyed.

Steven Lawson's Nathan Detroit was played more energetically and with more humour than is normally seen for this character. His high energy levels certainly kept the audience's attention. It makes a change to see different interpretations of such musical theatre iconic roles.

Claire Palmer's Miss Adelaide played the role traditionally and sang in fine voice. Good stage presence throughout and well acted, although she had a tendency to drop the character accent during vocals.

The key roles of Sarah Brown (Molly Summerskill-Smith) and Sky Masterson (Will Palmer) were well played and sung. I felt the roller coaster emotional connection between the two throughout the storyline.

Two vocal highlights stood out for me. The Arvide (Graham Jarvis) song of More I Cannot Wish You, tenderly, yet parentally sung to Sarah Brown, ensures you have a lump in your throat. The other vocal high spot was the Marry The Man Today duet by Adelaide and Sarah. Very well balanced and delivered.

The many other supporting roles plus the company Mission Band, Hot Box Girls and Guy's/Gamblers delivered solid individual and chorus musical numbers which ensured that the evening's performance was very well received by the appreciative audience.

People - including me - went home singing snippets of this good community theatre event.     

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