For someone passionate about Broadway and theater, it seems criminal that I’ve never seen Guys and Dolls before. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard of the musical, as I’m sure most theater lovers have. It’s talked about as one quintessential musical to watch. My grandmother talked frequently and fondly of the 1955 film starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando, and would listen to the music often. She would even sing one of the songs, “A Bushel and a Peck,” to the grandchildren all the time, and somehow, I never made the connection that it was from Guys and Dolls, nor did I ever sit down to watch it with her.
So, for Nicely Theatre Group’s production of Guys and Dolls, I went in completely blind, which felt apropos since the theater group is named for a character in the show. As a result, I became wholly immersed in the story instead of comparing their production to anything that had come before. It was just me, my fellow audience members, and the actors on stage that brought the story of Guys and Dolls to life. Based on the short stories “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” and “Blood Pressure” by Damon Runyon, this classic Broadway show features music and lyrics from Frank Loesser and a book from Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.
Mitch Master leads the charge for this production of Guys and Dolls, which features a live orchestra on stage and an impressively large cast for a local professional theatre. Tom Pagano, Patrick Lane, Erin Johnson, and Sarah Noble are central to this version of Guys and Dolls, which focuses on their four distinct characters and their intertwining relationships that build throughout both acts. It’s no easy feat to pull off a live show, but Nicely Theatre makes it look easy in one of the most impressive local shows we’ve seen so far.
Not familiar with Guys and Dolls or the work of Nicely Theatre Group? Don’t fret, we’re here to help you on both fronts! So step right up and read on for everything you could need to know about this production of Guys and Dolls!
[Warning: Spoilers from Nicely Theatre Group’s Guys and Dolls are below!]
A bet for the ages in the classic Broadway musical, Guys and Dolls
Life was different in the 1950s, especially in a busy place like New York City. While the city at large is alive with the hustle and bustle of citizens going about their daily routines, something else entirely takes refuge in the streets of Manhattan. Gambling is running rampant down Broadway, which seems to be a hotbox for gangsters and criminals attempting to make a name for themselves. None more so than Nathan Detroit (Pagano), who is looking for any place he might be able to hold his craps game.
All he needs is a thousand dollars to secure a safe location for him and his fellow gangsters to roll some dice. Easier said than done, but Nathan is determined and eager to get his cut of the profits, pushing him to bet the larger-than-life Sky Masterson (Lane). Sky’s perhaps the biggest gambler, making wild bets just to go big rather than going home. He recognizes that you must spend money to make money, willing to bet it all on something as stupid as a cockroach. He uses New York City as a layoff to his next destination rather than a place to rest his head, but it’s during one of these stops on his way to Cuba that he becomes embroiled in Nathan’s latest plan.
Sky believes that he can take any woman to Havana with him, a fact that Nathan takes advantage of. The bet: Sky must take whichever woman Nathan chooses to Hanava; otherwise, the former will owe him one thousand dollars. Seems easy, right? However, Nathan attempts to pull a quick one over Sky, picking Sarah Brown (Noble), a missionary working hard to rid the world of evil and corruption. What Nathan doesn’t count on is the power of love, something he should focus on in his own life.
From then on, Guys and Dolls becomes two separate stories about love. The first focuses on Nathan and his doll Adelaide (Johnson), the lead dancer at a club. The couple has been engaged for eleven years but have never moved on to marriage due to Nathan’s commitment issues. This puts the two of them at odds at different points in the show, as Adelaide is ready for the plunge and developing psychosomatic issues at how stagnant their relationship has become. Nathan needs to move on from his life of hustling gamblers out of their money, or he may just lose the best thing that has ever happened to him.
The other significant thread throughout Guys and Dolls is the entanglement of Sky and Sarah, who fall for each other despite being polar opposites. Sky is a slick man who doesn’t believe in being tied down. Sarah is morally rigid and righteous, so how could she possibly be in love with a sinner? It’s a classic love story that has played out in hundreds of romantic comedies; however, it doesn’t feel tired and old in this musical. Instead, you can’t help but root for the two of them as you slowly watch them melt their tough exteriors and realize their true feelings.
As the musical reaches its climax and truths come to light, all four characters must face harsh realities and decide what they want out of life. Sure, you can go about it by yourself, but isn’t it nicer with someone by your side? Can Nathan, Adelaide, Sky, and Sarah find their happy ending? Like with many classic musicals, the answer is one thousand percent yes.
Nicely Theatre Group puts on one hell of a show
Guys and Dolls is the first production of Nicely Theatre Group that we’ve reviewed for Cosmic Circus Broadway, and it certainly won’t be our last. This professional theatre group went to great lengths to provide a fabulous night out at the theater, and they achieved that goal tenfold. What could have easily felt like an old and outdated musical instead felt vibrant on stage, thanks in massive part to the live orchestra and the fantastic cast.
The show was staged where the orchestra was a major player, with the 19 people and their instruments taking up a large section of the stage. It was reminiscent of a big band feel, with enough horns, strings, and reed instruments to fill that room with melodic tunes for almost three hours. The orchestra felt like the fifth major player on stage, being just as integral to telling this story and to the overall experience as the actors themselves.
The entire cast was absurdly talented, which helped to elevate this production from mediocrity. There wasn’t a weak member amongst them; between the impressive choreography (shout out to Mark McCleese for his amazing work) that they managed to pull off and the harmonizing between their voices, there were multiple times that I had goosebumps during Guys and Dolls.
Amongst the actors, Patrick Lane and Sarah Noble were crème de la crème, as Sky and Sarah. Guys and Dolls is truly the story of these two characters and the love that builds between them, with most of the other storylines paling in comparison. That may be by design, but it could also be a testament to these two’s incredible performances. Lane is absolutely convincing as the gambler with a heart of gold but too afraid to show it. The audience melted in his hands as the tough exterior cracked, and you could glimpse the teddy bear underneath.
Noble’s portrayal of Sarah is similar. She goes from cold and firm in her beliefs to opening herself up to other possibilities. Her singing voice was somewhere in the stratosphere and something I would listen to on repeat. There’s also no denying these two’s chemistry, which made Guys and Dolls electric.
I was also pleasantly surprised by how hilarious Guys and Dolls was, which wasn’t something I was expecting. Most of the comedy comes from Nathan Detroit and his fellow gamblers, who can never seem to say the right thing and always end up in trouble. There were more times than I can remember that I chuckled and roared with laughter, which, to me, is a sign of a good show.
Guys and Dolls was a real treat
Did I go into Nicely Theatre Group’s production of Guys and Dolls expecting it to be one of my favorite musicals of all time? Absolutely not, but that only adds to the charm of this musical and our experience with Nicely. While, unfortunately, you can’t catch this group’s version of it, you should check out Guys and Dolls when you can. Also, if you’re in the West Bloomfield area over here in Michigan, keep the name Nicely Theatre Group in mind because you’ll want to make sure to catch their next production when it comes.
Check out Nicely Theatre Group to see some of their past shows and learn how to support their incredible work! Have you seen Guys and Dolls before? What are some of the local theater you’ve seen recently? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or @boxseatbabes!
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