Guys & Dolls at Bridge Theatre
It sounds like a familiar story: a good-hearted “doll” falls for the bad guy – a serial gambler in this case. Against all odds and despite misunderstandings from friends, they cannot help but be drawn to each other with a heartfelt attraction. While she embarks on a mission to redeem him, he attempts to seduce her with some dubious tactics. Add to this love story the twist of a very delayed wedding-to-be, a brigade impatient to shoot some craps and catchy tunes, and you begin to get a taste of Guys & Dolls. Plus in the production now on at the Bridge Theatre, there’s a powerhouse new cast and a 360-degree staging that makes the audience really feel like part of the musical.
Director Nicholas Hytner’s vision infuses the show with infectious excitement. Moving platforms and interactive performances weave the standing ticket holders into the narrative. The actors and stage crews work like clockwork to set in motion a vibrant and immersive experience, transforming the surroundings into the dramatic and noisy neighbourhood of New York where the Broadway fable takes place.
The galvanising score delivers popping songs with fleeting soul and dance influences, each musical number precisely timed and consistently subverting expectations. Choreographers Arlene Phillips and James Cousins masterfully manoeuvre the whole cast across the dynamic sets. Their coordinated efforts create breathtaking moments, sometimes leaving the audience on edge as performers tiptoe dangerously close to the edges of podiums, and at other times, engaging the entire theatre in rhythmic clap-alongs, as seen in the exhilarating song Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat, led by the animated Jonathan Andrew Hume.
A particularly spectacular and hilarious highlight is the group dance extravaganza in Havana, where Celine Schoenmaker, portraying the pious Sarah Brown, and George Masterson, as the seductive Sky Masterson, deliver exceptional performances, blending seamlessly into and then breaking out of vibrant Cuban party scenes. Meanwhile, Timmika Ramsay, as the commanding Miss Adelaide, delights with humorous antics and the depth of her incredible voice.
The glitzy costumes are the cherry on top of an adrenaline-filled, fun night out. With the production’s extended run, it continues to get many more theatregoers in their dancing shoes, with no signs of disappointment.
Cristiana Ferrauti
Images: Manuel Harlan
Guys & Dolls is at Bridge Theatre from 3rd March until 31st August 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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