At RWCMD |
| Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama- Guys and Dolls , Sherman Theatre Cardiff , March 30, 2004 |
| Fantastic, brilliant, stupendous, wonderful, exciting, warm hearted and hilariously funny! You bet I had a good time and I guarantee you will too if you get to see this excellently staged show. Following the exciting thunder of Rock and Roll from “Grease”, at the New Theatre last night, the harmonious opening bars of the overture caressed my ears like the gentle dawn-chorus outside my bedroom window on a spring morning. As the band, under the skilful direction of John O’Hara, expertly performed the opening pastiche of familiar tunes and the period neon signs lit up on the steamy set, the restless excitement of the audience calmed and the highly charged company burst onto the stage. The opening dance sequence picturing many curious characters from prohibition New York. Already the wit and humour that was to be one of the keynotes of this production was calling on us to smile and chuckle gently and letting us know that we were going to be in for a really good time. Guys and Dolls, ‘the quintessential Broadway musical’, opened there in 1950, that makes it antique by some standards but here it was so fresh it could have arisen from a bright college improvisation session. The special added ingredient that director Dave Bond, who’s skill with the cast indicates just why he holds the post of Head of Acting at the college, is that he has made each member of the cast examine their characters in the way they would if they were in a strong narrative drama. This has produced much more rounded people with real feelings not the cartoonesque character we usually get in musicals. Luck has most certainly been a good lady friend to all of us tonight. Sky may have taken Sarah to Havana to win a bet but there, they win each other’s hearts and after fourteen years of engagement Nathan marries Adelaide and her cold is cured. It all starts with a search for a place to set up tonight’s place for Nathan Detroit’s ‘oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York.’ Tight rather than sharp suited, gawky Stuart McLoughlin may be a cool gambler on the outside but he lets us see that inside he is vulnerable and really does want to settle down and live lovingly with Adelaide in that nice little house. To this he also adds a very engaging singing voice His three mates, Rusty Charlie, Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Benny Southstreet delightfully played and sung with twinkles in their eyes and sheer enjoyment in their walks by Kenon Mann, Michael Anders and Sion Iorweth Pritchard. With each of the leading players Sion shares a special charisma that puts an extra bright sheen on all the performances: his mastery of the Runyonesque delivery is a delight. Elin Llwyd as Adelaide is in great form as the raunchy ‘Hot Box’ singer and equally delicious and endearing in her, not quite hopeless, chase after Nathan’s love. Gareth Richards’ Sky makes the stage look like his own home, he has such a strong and comfortable presence; it’s no wonder Sarah falls for him. He brings a touch of dynamite to his ‘Luck be a Lady’ number. Catherine Ayers also sings beautifully, her strong-minded Sarah may know exactly what she wants but she also knows how to apply a deft touch of humour in getting it. The ensembles of Hat Box Girls, Missionaries, Guys and Dolls all sing and dance with great vigour and again introduce much charm and a note of delicious whimsy into their well drawn characters, which they share with the rest of the cast as well as with the audience. Some great individual performances and a great team achievement. Michael Anders opens the finale singing with spirited delight and a great joyful grin on his face but we just don’t want to sit down, we all just want to go on having a great time rocking this wonderful boat. |
Reviewed by: Michael Kelligan |
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