Arts > Theatre
Guys n Dolls @ Theatre Royal
04/05/16
First of all, I absolutely adore musical theatre. My earliest memories are of me and my mum dancing and singing to West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain or Chicago; these musicals motivating my aspirations to be an actress one day. So, when Guys and Dolls rocked into town, it was almost sacrilege to not go and watch.
Guys and Dolls was a production that had slipped under my musical theatre radar. I didn’t know any of the stories, any of the characters and maybe only one song- so tonight the Theatre Royal held a completely new experience in tale.
On entering the auditorium the stage is already illuminated with iconic 50’s advertising posters, lit up by the bulbs of Broadway. Instantly I am involved, the simple yet accomplished set drawing my attention even before the cast come on stage. And when the cast do, I am even more submerged in the wonderful world of Guys and Dolls.
The story is based around a group of gambling men in 50’s New York, their love lives getting in the way of their illegally floating crap game. When cheeky chappy Sky Masterson makes a bet with game runner Nathan Detroit that he can take missionary girl Sarah to Cuba, their bet is sorely interrupted by the unavoidable: falling in love. Love is accurately depicted through the cast’s heart-warming presentation; I can really feel leads Richard Fleeshman and Anna O’Byrne’s chemical relationship ooze into the audience, but only until we reach the second half. For the first hour and 30 minutes, I feel slightly alienated from the performers. Maybe it’s the outdated and sexist jokes on stage- fitting for the era of the play which I can understand, but seeing a girl’s arse getting grabbed unwillingly still doesn’t sit right with me personally. However, it’s easy to move on from this with the incredibly accomplished cast- they can all sing, dance and act phenomenally. Highlight of the evening is the Havana club scene, where we’re transported to the exotic Cuba. Vintage dresses mixed with flamboyant dancers in feather boas and headdresses, the scene takes us into vibrant and unknown lands. Choreography is absolutely stunning, making me completely envious at the fact that I have two left feet and no rhythm. Not only is it amazing to watch, but the actors look like they are enjoying themselves as well- which spread the joy of the show even further.
The second act is most definitely the strongest, with iconic songs Luck Be A Lady and Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat including gorgeous harmonies and dance sequences that make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. As a wonderful evening comes to a close, I’m left pining to be on that stage with them, their happiness as a cast resonating through the theatre as they stand for applause.
Lover of musicals, or simply searching for something to do - Guys and Dolls is the production to go see to elate your heart and transport you to a Broadway dream that you’ll never want to leave.