Review: GCT Performs a Rollicking GUYS AND DOLLS

Guys and Dolls/music & lyrics by Frank Loesser/book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows/based on stories by Damon Runyon/directed byTim Dietlein/Dan Roebuck/GCT(Glendale Centre Theatre)/through October 10

My first association with musical composer Frank Loesser was as an actor in the 70s in a revue of his music. I played Sky Masterson of Guys and Dolls and sang a duet of "I've Never Been In Love Before". I came to realize quite rapidly how lovely his music is and how well he manages to capture the moment of genuine emotion within a song. Upon seeing Guys and Dolls several times since, I have been awestruck as well by Abe Burrows' and Joe Swerling's ability to take Damon Runyon's New York Broadway characters from the 20s and 30s and blow them up into something overwhelmingly moving and appealing. The two worlds of sin and redemption have never been connected so naturally, cleverly and colorfully nor with such style and panache. Now at GCT, the cast give their all to Loesser's Runyonesque romp and ... it comes up a surefire hit.

Lundstedt and Standley

For those who have not seen the 1955 movie, let's recap the plot briefly. It's Broadway that grew out of the Prohibition era. On the streets we see horse betters Nicely Nicely Johnson (Andrew Metzger) and Benny Southstreet (Jonathan Brett), along with Nathan Detroit (Jason Lewis), the daddy of the floating crap game, and handsome gambler Sky Masterson (Robert Standley), who is passing through town. Detroit needs money to hold his crap game and bets Masterson that he cannot win the affections of Sarah Brown (Heather Lundstedt), a missionary whose mission is setting up camp on Broadway. Masterson is about to head for Havana, and the bet includes that he cannot get Sarah to go with him. Of course, Detroit thinks he'll win the bet hands down, but is he in for a surprise. Sarah reluctantly falls head over heels in love with Sky. Outside forces are threatening to shut down the mission due to lack of attendance, and when Sky guarantees 12 sinners at the Sunday meeting, there's a stipulation. Sarah ends up going to Havana, gets terribly drunk and lets her hair down for the first time. But...back in New York sobered up, she turns Sky down. On the other side of the coin, Detroit is engaged to showgirl Adelaide (Ann Myers) - in fact, it's been an interminably long engagement of 14 years. Adelaide pressures Nathan to stop gambling and to marry her. They're so mismatched, it seems obvious that they should give up on each other...but, they are in love. In order to buy into the whole succession of events here, you have to believe in the power of love.

In Swerling's and Burrows' delightful book, there are lots of engaging moments. Adelaide alone is a hoot and a half, and the very idea that Sarah, a devout religious girl, lets down her guard for romance is enticing enough to keep the audience engaged, and particularly since Sky and Sarah are so damn appealing. Add to this Loesser's fantastic songs like "I'll know", "If I Were a Bell", the fun antics of "Adelaide's Lament" as well as her "A Bushel and a Peck", "Take Back Your Mink", "Sue Me" and then the rollicking "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat"! With such an entertaining score, how can Guys and Dolls lose? It's a fun show with spicy dialogue and shenanigans... and incredible, hummable tunes.

Myers and Lewis

GCT's cast, under the fast-paced, sturdy direction of Tim Dietlein and Dan Roebuck, are sheer heaven. Standley and Lundstedt as Sky and Sarah exude charm, sex appeal...and to top that off, Lundstedt's beautiful singing voice is an experience in itself. She has one of the prettiest soprano voices in the LA area. Myers is scrumptious as Adelaide, never pushing, but just naturally conveying her dismay, depression and anger at Nathan's weakness. She is bubbly and perky, making Adelaide one of the happiest unhappy gals in town. Lewis conveys Detroit as a bungling mensch, irascible, but likeable. In smaller roles, Metzger stands out as Nicely Nicely with a great singing voice, as does Stephen O'Hara as Uncle Arvide. Praise as well to Kyle Kelley as Lt. Brannigan, Pablo Rossil as Harry the Horse, Tom Allen as Big Jule and Jonathan Brett as Benny Southstreet. Bravo as well to musical director Steven Applegate for his terrific recorded background score, to choreographer Orlando Alexander for some nice footwork in the Hot Box sequences and to Angela Manke for the colorful costumes.

This is a show I can see over and over again, if it is executed well. Guys and Dolls hits the mark, and GCT does the Loesser blockbuster proud.

O'Hara, Metzger and Brett

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