Introduction
“Guys and Dolls” is an American musical comedy, featuring music and lyrics by the composer and lyricist Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. The book was heavily based on several short stories by Damon Runyon, who earned his renown for stories about colorful eccentrics, con men, gangsters and various denizens of the underworld Broadway, and these are exactly the kind of characters we can expect from “Guys and Dolls”..
Summary
The story is set in New York, at the beginning of the 20th Century, and centers on Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler, and his acquaintance Nathan Detroit, a fellow player, crap game organizer, and a bit of a con-man. They make a dubious bet that gets Sky to make Sarah, a New York missionary, to fall for him. Over the course of the musical, the characters fall in love or re-evaluate their relationships, lies are revealed, and characters make up for them, gambling that got people into trouble gets them out of trouble, and the story ends with two marriages.
Acting
While the story is definitely interesting, it is the characters and the dialogs that make the musical as successful and entertaining as it is. The performers did a great job of capturing the quirky and fast-talking spirit of the original Broadway production and the film, and the two main actors leave a very pleasant impression. It is easy to root for this production’s Sky and Nathan, even when they make mistakes, because, at heart, they are good people, and because they are so charismatic. Of note is the scene where Sky and Nathan make their bet. The “cider in my ear” scene was brilliantly presented, as was Nathan’s lead up into the wager. Sky radiates an aura of confidence and suaveness, while Nathan perfectly fits the image of an absent-minded, somewhat sleazy con artist. Due to how complex Nathan’s character was, I was very impressed with how well the actor portrayed him, particular in his scenes with his dissatisfied and hypochondriac fiancé, Adelaide. Their scenes were very believable, and the actors managed to make the resolution of their story pleasant and cathartic.
There also is genuine chemistry between Sky’s and Sarah’s actors, which makes watching them together on stage very entertaining. The actors masterfully recreate the mannerisms and defining features of characters from different walks of life and different social standings.
Technical Aspects
The technical aspects of the play – the set, costumes, lights, and sound – are adequate for the purpose, and do help to immerse the audience into the world of the musical. The set recreates the atmosphere of the 1950s Broadway, by filling it with recognizable scenery with skyscrapers, billboards, cafes. Several different themed location sets were made, from the sewers, to “Save-a-Soul Mission”, to a Broadway street with the “Hot Box” night club. They serve as a nice backdrop for the action. The stage lights are tailored to the scene, for example. imitating the neon lights that saturated the streets of the period, or the “hot” red light of the passionate Havana. The costumes do a good job at communicating the characters’ social standing in the New York underworld, whether the character is a suave neatly dressed hustler, or a missionary sergeant. The sound design is on the level, with the dialogs being clearly audible, and the music performed to a high standard.
Conclusion and Recommendations
I would definitely recommend this production to other students, if not for educational purposes, then at least for a good laugh and a charming story. I enjoyed it very much and couldn’t take my eyes off the characters and their misfortunes. It is easy to see why “Guys and Dolls” is popular with beginner actors – it has a witty script, relatable, easy to understand characters, catchy songs (“Luck be a Lady” and “Sit down, you’re rocking the boat” in particular) and a fun story.