Performance Run: Tue 19 - Sat 23 July 2016

Performance Reviewed: Tue 19 July (Press Night)

The past few years have boasted a real renaissance in big budget, bright light revivals from the golden yesteryear of the stage and screen musical going on tour. 2014 saw the incredible retread of Singin’ in the Rain wash away its competition with a staggeringly confident production, whilst last year Top Hat followed suit (and hat) with an equally impressive showing. These were big, lavish spectacles of shows, easily as colourful and exciting as any of their contemporaries. 

This year, it’s the turn of 50’s favourite Guys and Dolls, only Dolls is seeing fit to have its show cake and eat it, going on tour across the UK whilst it’s West End production not only still runs, but is also bathing in renewed publicity and interest of it’s own with the divisive casting of Australian comedic Rebel Wilson as one of its central roles.

"Fortunately for audiences opting for the tour,

there's no such stunt casting here... the core

cast assembled here are superb."

Fortunately for audiences opting for the tour, there’s no such stunt casting here. In fact, bar an otherwise likeable ‘Sarah’ Bethany Lindsell struggling with the higher register of some of her numbers, the core cast assembled here are superb.

But more on them later.

Guys and Dolls tells a thoroughly conventional love story or two, plucked straight from the era with all the tropes and predictability one can come to expect. There’s no prizes for guessing where practically the entirety of the show’s story of bad boy meets good girl is headed, but in fairness by now very few people come to a show of this heritage and pedigree expecting postmodern narrative. It’s simple, good, clean fun, and that’s by no stretch of the imagination a bad thing - particularly when it’s wrapped up so deliciously in old-fashioned showmanship and musical finesse.

Set in 1920’s New York City, Richard Fleeshman plays Sky Masterson, a cocksure, freewheeling gambler who is waged by fellow gambling man Nathan Detroit (Maxwell Caulfield) that he cannot woo local Save-a-soul missionary, Sergeant Sarah Brown (the aforementioned Lindsell). Detroit hedges his bets in the hopes of acquiring funds for putting on one of his infamous floating Craps games, whilst also dealing with the frustrated affections of his long-term fiancé Miss Adelaide (Louise Dearman).

Stourbridge News:

Yes, it’s all decidedly of its time, but the characters here are well defined, beautifully played, and there are enough big set pieces and musical numbers to keep the show buzzing along with energy and pace. Frank Loesser’s score and songs are a jaunty, recognisable bunch, with the likes of ‘Luck Be A Lady’, ‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat’ and the titular ‘Guys and Dolls’ enduring in quality and appeal, and Peter McKintosh’s ‘bright lights, big city’ approach to his advertising wheel set design keeping things colourful, bombastic and suitably dazzling throughout. Particular credit should also go to Tim Mitchell’s lighting design, which harmonises beautifully with McKintosh’s effective yet fairly simplistic staging to nevertheless create a real opulent treat. Sequences such as the sewer games preceding ‘Luck Be A Lady’ cultivate a real sense of place and atmosphere, and Mitchell’s lightning is a pivotal component here.

As mentioned though, the cast are the real highlights. The ever-reliable Maxwell Caulfield is great fun as the put-upon Nathan, carefully managing to make the character both hopeless yet endearing. In the supporting cast, Jack Edwards makes for the perfect Nicely-Nicely Johnson, putting in a wonderfully charismatic turn and stealing scenes with relish particularly towards the latter half of the show, whilst Craig Pinder joyfully dials his Harry the Horse up to eleven. 

"One of British musical theatre's most versatile

and capable leading men... Fleeshman oozes the

swagger and charm needed for the role quite

effortlessly... a talent that clearly belongs on

the stage."

The true stars of this production though, are undoubtedly Fleeshman and Dearman. The former continues to prove himself one of British musical theatre’s most versatile and capable leading men, lending a youthful vigour and irrepressible confidence to the role of Sky. As well as being in fine voice, Fleeshman oozes the swagger and charm needed for the role quite effortlessly, and is a talent that clearly belongs on the stage. In that same vein, Dearman hits every note and comedic beat as Miss Adelaide effortlessly, and her experience in the industry is beautifully on show with a nigh-faultless performance that is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the whole show. 

Guys and Dolls as a story and piece of musical theatre does lack some of the whimsy, deviations and comic invention of some of the other high profile revivals mentioned earlier. For some, that will be perfect - this is arguably a classier, more straight-laced affair which has enough fun with its numbers and characters without the need for farce, satire or lampoonery, and brings a hearty dose of old-school musical charm and kicks instead. For others, it may lack bite or edge, or simply play itself a little too conventional.

Regardless, there’s no denying the calibre of talent on stage here. Carlos Acosta and Andrew Wright’s spirited choreography injects flavour and punch throughout, and the entire company breathe life and soul into each toe-tapping number and sequence, even if some do seem to fall some time apart from one another.

Stourbridge News:

Guys and Dolls is a mostly good-natured, light-hearted and beautifully executed old fashioned stage musical done right. It has a swing its step and a charm of its own, even if lacks something of a fire in its belly. With a central cast that can go comfortably toe to toe with the best in the business, a bright, colourful approach to its design aesthetic which does little to sacrifice on its West End look, and a slew of memorable, much-loved songs and numbers dotted throughout, this is an easy recommendation for a supremely enjoyable evening of classic musical theatre delights.

I’m no gambling man, but if I were, five will get you ten that you’ll have a blast.

RATING - ★★★★

Tickets: 01902 429 212  / Official Website: click

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here