Going to see Guys and Dolls ain’t no crap shoot. ’Cause it’s the real article. It’s a lot of great song and dance numbers strung together by an ongoing game of craps and the musical personalities it ensnares.
It is the underground world of Times Square, New York City in the 1950s. The gaudy, pinstriped, double breasted suits and New Yawk accents are all over the stage. The gangstas are endearing and the gals are lookers, though it is hard to decide who is ditzier; the guys or the dolls.
The action starts with a bet. Crap game operator Nathan Detroit bets high roller Sky Masterson that he can’t make the most random girl fall in love with him. An idle finger points to Sergeant Sarah Brown, of the “Save a Soul” Mission. The plot thickens.
The characters are campy; it is all about the music as the audience is treated to the tunes that made Guys and Dolls a Broadway classic. Though somewhat dated, the song and dance is universal in its appeal, with Luck Be A Lady Tonight still playing in the head days later.
The doll with it all is Jackie Mustakas, as Miss Adelaide, engaged 14 years to Nathan, played by Eddie Glen. Her ingenuous manner is as believable as her flawlessly fun accent. She bemoans the single life as she sniffle sings “If she’s tired of gettin’ fish eye from the hotel clerk, a poyson can develop a cold.”
Karen Coughlin plays the “mission doll” who goes from indignant to in love in short order and endeavours to reform the entire crap shooting lot. Her soprano voice is lovely in such numbers as I’ll Know sung with her bet winning, freedom losing suitor, Sky Masterson, played handsomely by Paul McQuillan.
Wonderful song and dance numbers are further provided by Michel LaFleche as Harry the Horse, a convincingly tough guy indeed and a familiar face to Drayton Entertainment. Lee Siegel, as Big Jule, scares the audience with his volume and demeanour. William Fisher as Arvide Abernathy provides a poignant moment with a song to his daughter, More I Cannot Wish You.
The story takes them to Havana, Cuba, where that transition is effected with a prop as economical as it is hilarious. Greater pains were taken with the retro set design and costumes of fickle finery that keep on coming, all thanks to David Boechler.
Director and choreographer Michael Lichtefeld brought a great deal of experience to his Drayton Entertainment debut including several Broadway and off-Broadway musicals and nine seasons at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival.
Music Director Steve Thomas leads the unseen orchestra with omnipresent skill.
Guys and Dolls is the final show of a fantastic 20th season at the Drayton Festival Theatre. Much more than a lucky seven has been at work here.
Guys and Dolls plays eight shows a week until Oct. 9. Call the box office at 519-638-5555 or toll free at 1-888-449-4463. For more information visit www.draytonfestivaltheatre.com.
