Making its Broadway Debut in 1950 to critical acclaim, winning a Tony Award in the process, as well as being adapted for the screen, much loved musical Guys and Dolls returns to the Bridge Theatre stage, after a much deserved scoop of awards at this year’s WhatsOnStage Awards. Reimagining Frank Loesser’s classic, Bridge Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner and choreographers Dame Arlene Philips and James Cousins remind us as to this current revival has taken London by storm.
You could easily be deceived into thinking that you’d stepped back in time to the 50s and were out on the humming streets of New York – Bunny Christie’s bright, attention to detailed set design armoured with attention grabbing neon signs, quaint mini market stands and unrelenting traffic lights and road signs. A tale of hustle, and what it means to go beyond the chaos of the day to day to find what truly matters – connection – Guys and Dolls flitters between the chatter, competition and erratic nature of the gambling world and the grounding reality of love.
Hytner’s vivid, filmic eye makes sure the musical consistently is on the move, there’s never a dull moment, which could very easily be the case, and therefore the show feels more like you’re at a concert, which is a great thing. Philips and Cousins beautifully connect us back to the extravagant movement sequences of the Hollywood golden era, snappy, unified yet charismatic jazz numbers the show’s rhythmic thread, tying the musical and dramatic realms together entertainingly.
George Ioannides’ smooth talking Sky Masterson, a gambler tasked with taking Celine Schoenmaker’s devout Sarah Brown of the ‘Save-a-Soul’ mission tie us to the unpredictable nature of love, Timmika Adelaide’s gregarious Miss Adelaide a tour de force – star performer of venue ‘The Hot Box’, Oliver Arthur’s Nathan Detroit, Miss Adelaide’s fiancé a witty, charismatic presence always on the move to ensure he snaps the latest deal.
A raucous evening aware of how best to break up time effectively and with this craft a lively production.
Review written by Lucy Basaba.
Guys and Dolls is currently showing until Saturday 31st August at the Bridge Theatre. To find out more about the production, visit here…
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