Guys and Dolls (H.A.T.S Kids Production)

This being a show close to my heart I was a little apprehensive about whether a junior production would work.  I am delighted to say that my worries were unfounded because it was clear from the off that it did.

There was plenty of action to set the familiar scene during the overture and the production of Fugue for Tinhorns as a group number really worked for the cast.  Throughout the production every opportunity was taken to involve the full cast and they were all given movement to accompany their singing.  The Havana scene was possibly a little long and I missed some of the dialogue but the Hot Box scenes were fine.  It was nice to see that they didn’t need to use girls in the crap game scene which many adult societies are forced to due to a lack of men.

The Director was very lucky with his principals as they were extremely well balanced, all giving strong performances of what is a fine libretto.  The essential humour was, in the main, presented nicely but perhaps could have been pointed a bit more.

Sky Masterson was played by Max Joy and he gave a good characterisation, gelling well with an impressive Tilly Binns as Sarah Brown.  Their harmonies were excellent and a pleasure to listen to.  Macsen Sherer quickly warmed to his role as Nathan Detroit, extracting as much as he could from it opposite Hannah Bacon who worked hard as the frustrated Miss Adelaide.  In a change from the norm, Abernathy was played by a girl, Olivia Thompson, and her rendition of More I Cannot Wish You was really good.

I enjoyed Dalvia Dhillon as Nicely Nicely Johnson, Megan Wilson was a convincing General Cartwright and there was a lovely cameo by Nathaniel White as Big Jule – he was possibly the shortest person in the cast!  The supporting cast were all enthusiastic as gamblers and Salvation Army ladies.

The set was excellent and the costumes right for the characters.  Musical accompaniment was via two pianos.

The youngsters in this group receive a lot of support from the adult society and this was a good, enjoyable production.  I really hope that they realise how lucky they are to have been given the opportunity to perform what is still one of the best shows around.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.