Published online on Morgan Hill Life on June 23, 2018
“Guys and Dolls” is a romantic comedy musical set in 1950s New York City. * Photo courtesy SVCT
The 1951 award-winning “Guys and Dolls” is as much fun as ever with South Valley Civic Theatre’s lively cast, great music and choreography. Based on two stories and the characters of Damon Runyon, this show features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, with the book by Thomas Meehan and Abe Burrows. Standards like “If I were a Bell,” “Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be A Lady,” and “Sit Down You’re Rocken’ The Boat,” will bring the audience back to another time and place.
Michael Kaelin vigorously takes on the role of Nathan Detroit, a man who runs the area’s illegal floating crap games. He has been engaged to Adelaide, played by the delightful, super talented Hillary Little, for 14 years.
He is stressed because he needs money for the location for his game. She has decided that it’s time they got married. Nathan makes a wager with upscale gambler Sky Masterson, deftly played by Joe Hartwell. Nathan bets that Sky will not be able to convince innocent Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown, played by beautifully voiced Megan Griffin, to accompany him to dinner in Havana. The plot thickens and is mixed with great music and interesting production numbers by choreographers Jyovonne Montosa and Nicole Tung.
Myra F. Kaelin directs with a light hand and keeps an even flow throughout the performance. Carol Harris, vocal and musical director, leads the solid 10-piece orchestra, and the creatively designed revolving set smoothly takes the audience to each location with colorful costuming that keeps the audience’s attention.
Happily, another generation will be exposed to “Guys and Dolls,” a wonderfully fun musical classic.South Valley audiences will realize that not much has changed in some values and ideas of romance and love.
With an energetic cast that delivers 110 percent, “Guys and Dolls” is an evening well spent.
Camille Bounds is the theatre columnist for Morgan Hill and Gilroy Life.
