“Guys n Dolls” by LAOS
Loughborough Town Hall

This production has class written all over it, which comes as no surprise as LAOS (Loughborough Amateur Operatic Society), are a classy lot, and I just bet you’re gonna love this show.

And that’s how it all starts. With a bet.

Nathan Detroit bets gambler Sky Masterson that Sky cannot persuade Save-A-Soul Missionary, Sister Sarah Brown, to go with him on a trip to Cuba. While Sky works his charms on a wary Sarah, Nathan is doing his best to avoid the clutches of his long-suffering fiancée, Miss Adelaide, while all the time trying to find a place to hold his floating crap game and stay under the radar of the local police department.

Set in New York City in the mid 20th century, “Guys n Dolls” is packed with gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls and showgirls. It has one of the most well recognised musical scores for a musical including “Luck Be A Lady”, “I’ve Never Been In Love Before”, “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”, “ A Bushel & A Peck”, “If I Were A Bell” and of course the title song.

Chris Wilson (Sky Masterson) cuts an imposing figure on stage, and proves his worth as a romantic leading man. Anyone who has seen Chris in any other LAOS show will already know that he has a superb voice and he showcases this on many of the show's numbers.

Rosie Morris (Sarah Brown) has one of those almost operatic voices that you could listen to all night. I'm not sure how staged the slaps are that she gives Sky, but from where I sat, they didn't look pulled. A lovely passionate performance.

James Daw (Nathan Detroit), and the first thing that hits you is the accent. I love a good accent and this was brilliant. Speaking to James after the show he says that people have pitched it somewhere betwixt Nathan Lane and Peter Griffin - Family Guy. I can see both but love the work that has gone into the accent. James is a brilliant comedy character actor and this production shows his shills off perfectly.

Alix Ashurst (Miss Adelaide) is another wonderful character actor and again the accent is wonderful, as is the whole comic side of the role.

Mark Chinnery (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) gets to sing one of the biggest songs in this musical, and singing "Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat" is the song that you have to throw yourself fully into. That he, and the rest of the cast do with incredible gusto.

Liam Patrick (Benny Southstreet) is an actor I have a lot of time for because I know how much he loves what he does, and that shows when he is on stage. Yet again another excellent Noo Yoik accent and while most of us may think that singing with an accent is easy, it's not, but Liam makes it sound so easy.

Josh Hill (Rusty Charlie), like Liam is an actor who you can just tell loves what he does on stage and that passion ensures that we have a great time watching him perform.

Cameron Sim (Harry The Horse) is the gambler responsible for bringing Big Jule to game and Cameron and Ian Dean (Big Jule) bring the menace to the musical.

Kevin Clarke (LT Brannigan) is one of those old style B Movie type detectives, just trying to get that break on putting the finger on all of the crap-shooters. A lovely moody performance that makes you smile to know that he will never get one over on Detroit and the gang.

Jack Cooling (Joey Biltmore) also gets that accent right as the man who stands in the way of Detroit's latest game at his garage.Only a minor role but one that demands comic timing.

Adrian Dobson (Arvide Abernathy) reminds us of what a superb singing voice he has as Sarah's Grandfather. His song "More I Cannot Wish You" really does get the hairs on your arm standing up.

Natalie Littlewood (Matilda B Cartwright) comes in as a bit of a strict character, wanting to close the mission down but then lets her hair down before relenting on the closure. Another class act.

The rest of the ensemble present a solid backing for the main characters and their choreography pieces really do highlight what a brilliant troupe of dancers and singers this theatre group have.

Directed by Lyndon Perry, there is nothing else he could have done because he has squeezed everything out of this cast, and that is why this show is of such a high quality. It was in fact like watching one of those classic Hollywood movies but in HD, in colour and in 4D.

Choreographed by Allison Cundell and boy has she done a great job on this show, especially in the Havana bar scene. like a scene from Strictly Come Dancing. Some incredible dancers like Joe Harrison got to show that they brought the excitement to the stage through Allison's choreography.

The Musical Director is the wonderful Hazel Needham and the perfect acoustics at Loughborough Town Hall let the rounded and crystal clear orchestra shine. A beautifully balanced sound design by Rob Temperton and Harry Bridges.

The lighting design for this production really enhanced the mood and the feel and another success for Kevin Cutts.

The sets by Proscenium were wonderful as were the incredible costumes. Full of colour and style for both male and female, they oozed class. I am sure a labour of love for wardrobe mistress Gemma Baxter.

It's always been one of my favourite shows for many reasons, and it's for many reasons that you should see this particular presentation, so go on, take back your mink, because I'll know that you'll be havana great time, and if you don't love this show by the end, then sue me!

“Guys n Dolls” is at Loughborough Town Hall until Saturday 15 September 2018.