Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl...Post your comments here!

[jovie27]

Post your comments here!

[jovie27]

Anyone seen it yet?

[millie_dillmount]

Your original post was a day early.

Considering performances started July 31 and it is 9:30 p.m. in California, I doubt anyone is home to write a review yet. The show isn't even over...

[AngusN]

Still no reviews?

[millie_dillmount]

I am sure someone will review. Patience.

[lovesclassics]

TheaterMania didn't like it. Someone at ATC said it was disappointing, too.

I saw the Ogunquit production last week with Kind, Larsen, Hoff and Crampton. Excellent! They got it practically perfect. So glad I decided to go. I was on the fence, but it was well worth the drive.
Guys & Dolls Review

[BroadwayBound062]

Wow they really didn't like this show at all.

[theaternut]

Thanks for bumping. Yeah just heard from my friend Charlie and he said last night was pretty pathetic. Not going to deal with Bowl traffic for this.

[TheatreFreak05]

I guess I'm the only one who liked it! Ellen Greene was very funny and Brian Stokes Mitchell sounded great! The stand out number was definitely "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" Ken Paige was fantastic!!

Jessica Biel was ok... Her voice was surprisingly nice, but a little weak at times. Also, Scott Bakula was great as Nathan.

I had a wonderful evening!

[Eris0303]

If I was out there I'd have gone just to see Bakula. I like him so much and wish he'd do something in New York.

[Dolly_Levi]

The photos (on the main page now) look terrific. Esp. Ellen Green. Ihave a friend going tonight. Looking fwd to his review.

[Eris0303]

I was watching the video with Jessica Biel on BWW TV. Is her wig awful or is the hair color too dark for her complexion? I can't quite decide.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Jazzy wants clips of Ellen Green. Jazzy wants them now.

[LizzieCurry]

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&scoring=d&ie=UTF-8&q=guys+and+dolls+hollywood&btnG=Search+Blogs

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

I'm going tonight...
I'l post a review late this evening...

[BroadwayBound062]

My friends are all seeing it tonight but those who have seen it didn't care for it so far.

[Iris Chacon]

It was dreadful. Just got back. Boring as all.. and everyone in it was embarrasingly bad.

[ABB2357]

The relative bright spots were Stokes and Ken Page - Stokes acted and sang capably but you could tell his heart wasn't in it. Page put genuine effort and energy into his "Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat," but those were about the only high points in the production. It lurched along interminably and both lead women were awful. Greene is still playing Audrey and did absolutely nothing for her character in either the songs or the book scenes. Biel seemed lost; her voice was pleasant but she didn't really act the songs, just got by from note to note. Bakula didn't register much, if at all.

It made me wonder whether "concert" presentations of musicals really need to be staged. The scenery and choreography (or lack thereof) proved to be more of a distraction than anything else. I would have liked to have seen a legitimate concert production that highlighted that great material instead of something so half-baked. With a book and score like GUYS & DOLLS, it should be able to stand on its own.

The crowd at the Bowl was polite but not gaga by any means. In fact, it was one of the least crowded events I've been to there, surprising for a Saturday night. The side rear sections were almost completely empty, and a lot of people moved down after intermission.

[shira467]

I genuinely enjoyed it, I must say. Also, it was refreshing to hear the score. Sure, there were a ton of problems, but sometimes its good to let the criticism cap off and just let yourself get swept away.

Ellen Greene annoyed the crap out of me. Scott Bakula did well, and while I love me some Stokes, I felt like he was missing something.

But here's what shocked me. Jessica Biel didn't suck. Now, she's not gonna win any awards for sure, but she could carry a tune (carry, sometimes not overly well, but she didn't make me want to die), and while her acting wasn't strong, she managed to hold her own with Brian Stokes Mitchell. In fact, when I was watching her, I didn't see "OMG it's Justin Timberlake's Girlfriend", but I was watching an immature Sarah Brown.

[Iris Chacon]

DP

[Iris Chacon]

Glad you found some enjoyment in it. I truly believe it was one of the worst things they have done at the Bowl. None of the leads registered with me in any way. Everyone looked bored. Ellen Greene needs to retire her shtick. I kept forgetting Scott Bakula was in it. Beu Bridges was ok. The whole thing was just a boring mess. In general.. musicals at the Bowl have a tough time. This one didn't even seem to try. Glad it was free.

[YouWantitWhen????]

I saw it last night as well and thought it was fun. I echo Shira's comments about Biel, she did not look totally lost and held her own. Her voice was OK. I had a good time, and enjoyed myself, and thought it was a fun night.

Ellen Greene seems to be doing Ellen Greene, and that is about it.

[CATSNYrevival]

Why are they incorporating the "Adelaide" song? Has that ever been used in any of the stage versions subsequent to the film?

[MTVMANN]

Glad to hear that Biel is doing okay! I wondered how she would handle the high notes in "I'll Know".

Also...everyone that said that Ellen Greene was too old for this part needs to look at the pictures!!!!!!
Also...if she is doing Audrey that's fine by me. She invinted the part, so she can hang on to it...especially in a bit of a similar role like this.

[Yankeefan007]

Lots of clips on the tube.