A hit with Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls, Exeter Northcott, Tuesday 26th January to Saturday 30th January

By Jenna Richards

Footlights theatre society have scored a hit with their production of Guys and Dolls at Exeter’s Northcott theatre.

With great singing, superb acting and believable characterisation I was enthralled throughout.

The original musical based on the lyrics of Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling  premiered on Broadway in 1950, and tells the story of two gambling, high-flying friends: Sky Matterson and Nathan Detroit.

Nathan makes his money arranging Crap games for the high rollers of the city. But with the local police on his back he is starting to have trouble finding a venue for his games. Adding to his troubles, his fiancée of 14 years, Adelaide, is trying to make him throw in the towel and live an honest life.

In an attempt to pay up-front for a game venue Nathan bets notorious gambler Sky Masterson that he can’t take the preaching mission ‘doll’ Sarah Brown all the way to Havana, Cuba for a night out.

From the off I was impressed. The singing was competent and the first all male dance number was a great success.

The acting throughout was believable with each actor giving their all to their performance.

For me, the stand out performance was Olivia Clements as the ever-engaged Miss Adelaide. Blessed with great stage presence and a powerful voice she was a pleasure to watch.

With a relatively low-key functional but versatile sets and costumes, the focus was very much on the characters and story. In a lesser production this could highlight its floors but in this case it just accentuated some of the good old-fashioned razzmatazz.

If I had one criticism of the show it was that some of the dance numbers could have been a more polished. But to ask for perfect timing and immaculate moves on the first night of any performance is, I feel, too much.

This was a great show and an enjoyable night out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of the cast appearing in the west end in years to come.