Guys and Dolls

Take a musical with a first class book and score such as Guys and Dolls. Now, combine this with thoughtful, precise stage direction and accurate musical direction, and you are surely on to a winner. KMA’s production of this show gave us all this, plus a cast of principals which brought over all the humour, movement and characterisations with which this show is so well endowed. Sarah Brown (Fiona Main) and Sky Masterson (David J Mutch) formed a very believable leading couple, performing all their solos and duets with total security, leaving us in no doubt as to the verity of their lifetime  “Treading the boards”.

For me, the star of the show was Pauline Braisby, playing a superb Miss Adelaide.  Pauline’s take on the comedic role, must rank as one of the best I have seen - her squeaky accent as the ditsy blonde  never faltering throughout! The trio of gamblers were no less worthy of praise.  Nathan Detroit (Steven Smyth), Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Darren Johnston) and Benny Southstreet (Finlay Balfour) kept us amused at each and every appearance, with Nicely-Nicely’s rendition of “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” earning well-deserved, show-stopping applause from the large house. The main cast received excellent support from the team of minor principals, in particular  Arvide Abernathy (Lindsay Black). Lindsay’s performance of “More I Cannot Wish You” bringing us a moment of poignancy between The Hot Box Nightclub and The Crap Game scenes.  Also, “little” Big Jule (Guy Bathgate) albeit still a school pupil, showed great promise for the years to come.

Sets by John Urquhart were simple, yet extremely effective, and allowed for smooth, rapid scene changes by Stage Manager (Sheona Goodall) and her team.

Well done Kelty Musical Association (especially for the programme glossary of American terms used in the show)!  Thank you for a most enjoyable evening!

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