Guys & Dolls

Under their previous name Skipton & District AODS, they had staged this Frank Loesser musical eighteen years ago and it was a good choice of show for their first performance as “Skipton Musical Theatre Co”. Having four entrances into the playing area, The Mart Theatre was an ideal venue for the bustling opening scene Runyonland, where we first meet our characters. All the action took place in front of the backcloth which concealed Cathy’s excellent orchestra. In the leading roles, Simon Jackson was a confident Sky Masterson and attractive Jade McLellan, who, as Sarah Brown had a stunningly beautiful voice and although both still in their late teens, both gave performances to be proud of. Neil Helliwell and Helen Procter worked well together, bringing out the comedy in the roles Nathan Detroit and his ever loving Adelaide. She also performed well with the young Hot Box Girls in the night club cabarets. There was a nice touch of comedy, when Big Jule (Philip Smith), made his fearfully anticipated entrance, to discover that he was smaller than the other gamblers. Edward Munday was ideal as Nicely Nicely Johnson and featured in ‘Fugue for Tin Horns’ with Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie (Ray Walters, Chris Dixon) and later was excellent in his rousing ‘Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat’. In a quieter moment against the brashness of the gamblers and the Hot Box Girls, there was a tender rendition of   "More I Cannot Wish You" by Steve Charlton as Arvide Abernathy sung to his granddaughter Sarah. In this well-paced show the twelve members of the chorus contributed well as various other guys and dolls and all in all it was a good first show under their new name which bodes well for the future.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.