Guys and Dolls at the Florence Little Theater

I thoroughly enjoyed the Florence Little Theater’s production of Guys and Dolls. Seated on Row E in the middle*, I had a perfect view of the stage. Hats off to Director Jan Lingle for a great show that was wonderfully cast. With names like David Hamilton, Rebecca Thompson, Kevin Carter, Kristen Owen, Shaw Thompson, Keith Best… (to name a few) I knew the show was bound to be good. Guys and Dolls has a large ensemble cast, and you will see many FLT veterans in the play.

Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Premiering on Broadway in 1950, it ran for 1,200 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and has had several Broadway revivals as well as West End productions. (Wikipedia) In Guys and Dolls, Nathan Detroit, the organizer of the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York, bets fellow gambler Sky Masterson that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him. The next girl he sees happens to be Miss Sarah Brown, a pure-at-heart Salvation Army-type reformer. Sky has his work cut out for him. (Source)

Nathan Detroit (David Hamilton) is a “schemer and planner” but never one to get his own hands dirty– or actually follow through with marrying his fiancee of fourteen years, Adelaide (Rebecca Thompson). Hamilton’s experience and charisma bring a nice strength and smoothness to Nathan Detroit. Adelaide, starting to see that a fourteen year engagement is quite a problem, begins to push Detroit to follow through with his promise. Thompson’s performance brought images of Marisa Tomei in “My Cousin Vinny” to mind. She is outwardly tough and full of Jersey accent and big talk, but still a woman of vulnerability and insecurity. Her comedic timing is impeccable.

We see Sky (Kevin Carter), a smooth-talking gambler, take the biggest gamble of all when he falls in love with Sarah Brown (Kristen Owen). Sky is obviously a master at his own game, he exudes confidence and dignity even as he sins. There is no doubt about it– Owen is dazzling even in her slightly frumpy and austere suit as the prissy Ms. Sarah. Her transformation from Ula in “The Producers” to Ms. Sarah is profound and shows true talent that Florence is lucky to have.

My favorite scene is Act 2, Scene III “Crap Game in the Sewer.’ The guys absolutely NAIL this piece, and it is amazing. The choreography is top notch and I am pretty sure that I saw Walton Sprawls do a back flip at one point. (I wonder if thats how Creel Tire manages to work so fast?)
Ms. Adelaide and Ms. Sarah have a scene together that is so poignant that I would be remiss if I did not mention it. Everything about the two women is a study in contrasts. From their backgrounds to their hair color to their voices, it is clear that they are not alike. And yet, women know when it comes to matters of the heart we are all alike. Thompson and Owen do a magnificent duet that both displays the contrasts and the similarities of the two characters.

Speaking of the Thompson’s, Nicely Nicely played by Shaw Thompson, does a rousing version of “Rocking the Boat.” I actually have been singing it over and over since Friday night. I perused you tube videos of other performances of this song, and I contend that his is the best around.

I am always looking for an actor that is a “scene stealer”. Ashley Costas was the scene stealer in “The Producers”. The scene stealer in “Guys and Dolls” had to be Jumana Swindler as Agatha. When Agatha ran out of the mission during the raid with a card dealer visor on, I almost fell out of my seat laughing. Her expressions throughout the play are priceless, I loved her in this play.

I wish I could break down every song and every scene for you, I loved them all. From Frankie Sullivan’s pinkalicious shirt and tie to the scene between Ms. Sarah and Arvide it was a delight. I also loved the New York backdrop– I want a print of that for my office The crew did an excellent job as well. Florence is so fortunate to have the amount of talented people that we do– and that they are so generous with their time. Please support the arts and treat yourself to a great night out! Here is the information about show times and reservations.

This is the closing play for the season, but there is plenty to look forward to in the summer. Check out all of the information in the “Curtain Call” that you receive at the theater. I can’t wait to see the lineup of plays for the fall.

*Not my real seat in case you start researching.