Guys and Dolls

I admire the ethos of the administration of Nailsea Musicals, it is a totally inclusive society and believes in introducing inexperienced performers to leading roles to allow young people to gain experience, thus ‘growing their own’ leading performers  for the future.

Guys and Dolls is a demanding show, so well known that the audience often has an expectation of the show they are about to see. The music is wonderful, loud and brassy as are the characters. The production team tried very hard to inject, through the cast,  the fun and excitement required to bring this classic story across the ‘footlights’, but, whether the cast was a bit lack-lustre or were influenced by a decidedly unimpressed and non communicative audience, Act I  was  a disappointment. All the performers were working very hard, the dialogue was accurate, the songs were sung in tune at the right tempo and the dance steps were, I am certain performed as directed. But the show was one dimensional and uninspired. The band consisted of just piano and drums and for whatever the reason that the band was so small, they were not sufficient to give the dramatic scenes the musical colour which was required. However I thought the musical ability of the accompanist was extremely accomplished and worked very hard. The costumes were adequate, however I would have liked more glitz from Adelaide and her Hot Box Girls and also in  the Havana dance scene, and more uniformity in the Salvation Army troop (General Cartwright would never have worn a tight short skirt, high heels and no hat)!

Unfortunately my husband’s car was involved in the drama which unfolded in the car park during the interval, but I made it back to a seat in time for the opening of Act 2.

Act 2 was a different show. The performers had gained confidence and reached out to a very receptive audience. The ‘crapshooters dance’ and Sky’s performance in ‘Luck Be A Lady’ was well performed and entertaining. Arvide’s singing of ‘More I cannot wish you’ was delightful and ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat’, stole the show. This is a ‘big, male show’ and the talented male cast stole the show, with all the cameo roles being performed well. Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson were played by very talented young men, they were extrovert and confident and will be names to watch in the future. Miss Adelaide and Sarah Brown both under played their roles, but the experience and confidence gained and their undoubted ability will make them both valuable principal performers in the future. Their duet ‘Marry the Man’ was another highlight. Congratulations to the director Paul Jennings on turning this inexperienced cast into a tight, well paced and talented team.

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