Guys and Dolls at the New Theatre

Director: Peter Rowe
Musical Director: Greg Palmer
Choreographer: Francesca Jaynes

Guys and Dolls is an energetic and entertaining production which sees the worlds of the Salvation Army missionary and the lowlife craps player collide on the streets of New York with comical consequences.

Cast members double up as the onstage musicians to provide a welcome change from the traditional formula.

The all-singing, all-dancing guys and dolls leave audience members feeling the urge to get up and join in.

With convincing character portrayals from the protagonists and surprising star performances from supporting actors, this show really does offer everything.

Though spending relatively little time on stage, Gavin Spokes had remarkable presence as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, and his performance of Rocking the Boat [italics] was particularly memorable. Another standout performance came from Rosie Jenkins – as Miss Adelaide – whose comic timing was superb.  She successfully captured her character's desperation while simultaneously endearing herself to the audience.  

One of the best comic scenes, incorporating the majority of the cast, was set in Havana, where the prim and proper missionary Sarah Brown [Laura Pitt-Pulford] accidently discovers the joys of Bacardi and falls in love with gambling scoundrel Sky Masterson [Robbie Scotcher].

There was little to find fault with in this fresh production of a classic musical.

Guys and Dolls is showing at the New Theatre until March 12