Guys and Dolls

A trip to the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield always rates highly for me. I like the location, building and the theatre configuration. Combine this with the talent of Huddersfield Amateur Operatic Society performing one of my favourite fifties musicals, then an evening out at the 'oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York'  can't be bettered.

It is not an easy task to transport Damon Runyon's characters and their language from page to stage. The creative team and company however proved that it can be done.  

The staging set the tone right from the beginning. That busy Broadway street scene leading straight into Fugue For Tinhorns. Nicely-Nicely, Benny and Harry set the standard and grabbed my attention. This was going to be good.

The plot develops and soon we know all the characters. The star for me was Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Dan Sean Henry) quite possibly the best Nicely-Nicely I have seen in Community Theatre in recent years. His acting, energy, characterisation, voice delivery and vocals were terrific.

None of this however takes anything away from the central roles of Nathan, Sky, Miss Adelaide and Sarah Brown. Everyone delivered their roles with confidence, ease and where appropriate humour. Nathan (Stuart Marshall) was slick, loveable and delivered the humour of this great musical theatre character. Sky Masterson (Richard Brook) looked right and sang with confidence and feeling. Sarah Brown (Sonya Morris) sang very well and delivered that balance of feistiness and homeliness that makes the character interesting to audiences.      

Special mention for Miss Adelaide (Michele Stevenson) and her Hot Box Girls. I really felt for the predicament that Adelaide found herself in. Suffering such a long term engagement whilst still clearly in love with Nathan. Her character, stage presence and delivery demanded attention when she was on stage. In some Guys and Dolls productions the scenes with the Hot Box girls can leave an audience uncomfortable. Not so in this case. The scenes were cleverly choreographed, well dressed and presented.       

The duet Marry The Man Today by Adelaide and Sarah was a vocal high spot for me. Very well balanced and delivered.

The other supporting roles including the company Mission Band and Crap Shooters cast delivered convincing individual and well sung chorus musical numbers.

This production deserved a larger audience than those present. 

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