This lively production of the classic musical is filled with joyful performances that ensures audiences will leave with a smile on their face.
With several new cast members joining Nicholas Hytner’s production, this revival of Guys & Dolls still shines thanks to its immersive components that allows those standing for the performance really feel involved with the action happening around them and of the classy performances from the cast.
Filled with colour and energy, this production of Guys & Dolls is a real spectacle from start to finish, effectively changing locations thanks to set designer Bunny Christie’s innovative set design and the way in which stage elements rise up and down to offer those both sitting and standing a different perspective.
Perhaps it could be said that given the amount of movement the standing audience goes through there are occasions that they might miss aspects of the performances, while at the performance I was at the sound was slightly off balance.
Hytner’s production mainly retains the traditional setting of the musical, with hints of modernity as shown with a gay salsa dance in Havana which offers a slightly different perspective of Sky Masterson. Through his direction, both love stories at the centre of the story are showcased nicely, with humour and romance with the renditions of ‘I’ll Know’ and ‘Sue Me’ proving to be real highlights.
There is consistent high energy to the performance, enhanced further by the choreography by Arlene Philips and James Cousins, who work wonders given the sometimes limited stage space particularly during the memorable routines for ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’ and ‘Luck Be a Lady’.
Full credit should also go to the orchestra who perform Frank Loesser’s score beautifully and with charm. The musicians draw out every emotion and playfulness to the music. There is great joy in the way in which they perform songs such as ‘Fugue for Tinhorns’ and ‘A Bushel and a Peck’, while also showcasing the romance of ‘I’ll Know’ and ‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’. The orchestrations are spot on and a pleasure to listen to.
But there is also plenty of warmth and pleasure to be found in the performances as well. Joining the cast to play loveable rogue Nathan Detroit, Owain Arthur finds great balance between his love of Miss Adelaide and love of gambling to great and comical effect.
Meanwhile as Miss Adelaide, Timmika Ramsay is suitably empowering as the character’s frustration over Nathan’s lack of ability to commit simmers throughout. But she also brings a great sense of comedy to the role – with her rendition of ‘Adelaide’s Lament’ a real highlight. Her slightly smokey vocals doing well to bring out new emotion to the song, while also bringing the house down with her feisty rendition of ‘Take Back Your Mink’.
Elsewhere, George Ioannides is a cool and charming Sky Masterson that makes him a strong leading man – highlighted by a memorable performance of ‘Luck Be a Lady’. His chemistry with Celinde Schoenmaker’s buttoned up Sarah Brown sizzles, particularly showcasing how well their characters work together to make themselves more open people. There are plenty of lovely moments between them. With Schoenmaker, you can tell she is having a great time embracing Sarah’s changing outlook on life as seen in the bar scene and following rendition of ‘If I Were a Bell’.
Other ensemble performances of note include Niall Buggy as the warm and kind hearted Arvide Abernathy, Cameron Johnson, as the mobster Big Jule delivered great laughs with his deep voice delivering lines with great dryness that worked well for the character and Jonathan Andrew Hume brought great charm and energy to Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Despite some sound issues on the performance I went to see, this production of Guys & Dolls will still leave you beaming from ear to ear.
By Emma Clarendon
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐