Holy Rollers, Batman!
Marriott Theatre presents |
Guys and Dolls |
Written by Frank Loesser Directed and choreographed by Matt Raftery at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire (map) through March 27 | tickets: $40-$48 | more info |
Reviewed by Lawrence Bommer
Damon Runyon knew Broadway like the beat of his heart—from its sewers to its gospel missions. Those in fact are two of the exotic locales in Guys and Dolls, the always lovable, inexhaustibly right 1950 musical that Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows concocted from Runyon’s delightful short stories. Collected by Loesser in 1932, those good-hearted, slang-filled tales of Broadway sharpies, floozies, high rollers, suckers, and the frustrated reformers who tried to clean up their act are still well worth the read.
For those who don’t know this merry musical, Guys and Dolls traces the very opposite attraction of gambler Sky Masterson for Sister Sarah Brown, a naïve Salvation Army lassie: An unlikely couple, by show’s end the two feel just right together. Another off-beat romance pairs Nathan Detroit, organizer of New York’s "oldest established, permanently floating crap game," and Miss Adelaide, a dimly-lit showgirl frustratedly engaged to Nathan for 14 years, who has her famous, constant cold to show for it.
Joined by such richly-named urban denizens as Harry the Horse, Benny Southstreet, and Rusty Charlie, they all return to full and happy life in this Marriott Theatre revival. If in songs like "Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat" and the title hummer, Frank Loesser found a savvy musical equivalent to Runyon’s wonderful oddballs. Director Matt Raftery has his gritty-rich equivalents too, notably Jessie Mueller as adenoidal Adelaide ("a person could develop a cold"), a wackily evasive Rod Thomas as her hilariously allergic-to-marriage Nathan, and leather-lunged George Andrew Wolff as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, a crap shooter who improbably finds religion on a bet.
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Abby Mueller shows why Sarah is such a rich role: In her "I’ve Never Been in Love Before" and her inebriated "If I Were a Bell" she acts her way through songs that say it all. As her gambling man with a soul to be saved, suave and handsome Brian Hissong brings to "I’ll Know" and "Luck Be A Lady" a rich, unforced baritone that’s pretty persuasive. Playing Sarah’s Samaritan/Salvation mentor, Roger Mueller makes much of his tender "More I Cannot Wish You" and John Lister brings hometown conviction to Big Julie from Chicago (apparently the only thug in New York who carries a gun).
Picturing the period perfectly, Tom Ryan’s urbane set nicely set off the fedoras and loudly colored, wide-lapeled suits that costume designer Nancy Missimi contrasts with the chorines’ pink fluffery. Combine these with this cunning cast and Raftery’s crisp and unconventional choreography and you’ve got a show to lift anyone from the winter doldrums.
Rating: ★★★★ |
Filed under: 2011 Reviews, Lawrence Bommer, Marriott Theatre, Musical | Tagged: Aaron Thielen, Abby Mueller, Adrian Aguilar, Amanda Tanguay, Andrea Prestinario, Andy Lupp, Anne Gunn, Bernie Yvon, Bob Gilmartin, Brandon Koller, Brian Hissong, Diane Ferry Williams, Dr. Ryan Nelson, Frank Loesser, George Andrew Wolff, George Keating, Guys and Dolls, Holly Stauder, Jameson Cooper, Jessie Mueller, John Lister, Laura Savage, Lawrence Bommer, Marriott Theatre, Matt Raftery, Michael Lindner, Mollie Slattery, Nancy Missimi, Nicole Hren, Patti Garwood, Rob Rahn, Rod Thomas, Roger Mueller, Tom Ryan | Leave a comment »