Review: Candlelight Pavilion Lights Up GUYS AND DOLLS

Guys and Dolls/music & lyrics by Frank Loesser/book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows/based on stories by Damon Runyon/directed by John LaLonde/Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, Claremont/through February 27

My first association with musical composer Frank Loesser was as an actor in the 70s in a revue of his music. I played Sky Masterson of Guys and Dolls and sang a duet of "I've Never Been In Love Before". I came to realize quite rapidly how lovely his music is and how well he manages to capture the moment of genuine emotion within a song. Upon seeing Guys and Dolls several times since, I have been awestruck as well by Abe Burrows' and Joe Swerling's ability to take Damon Runyon's New York Broadway characters from the 20s and 30s and blow them up into something overwhelmingly moving and appealing. The two worlds of sin and redemption have never been connected so naturally, cleverly and colorfully nor with such style and panache. Now at Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, skilled artistic director John LaLonde guides a fine cast who dive full force into Loesser's Runyonesque romp and make it their own.

For those who have not seen the 1955 movie, let's recap briefly. It's Broadway that grew out of the Prohibition era. On the streets we see horse betters Nicely Nicely Johnson (Robert Hoyt) and Benny Southstreet (Andrew Orbison), along with Nathan Detroit (Victor Hernandez), the daddy of the floating crap game, and attractive gambler Sky Masterson (Allen Everman), who is passing through town. Detroit needs money to hold his crap game and bets Masterson that he cannot win the affections of Sarah Brown (Ashley Grether), a missionary whose mission is setting up camp on Broadway. Masterson is about to head for Havana, and the bet includes that he cannot get Sarah to go with him. Of course, Detroit thinks he'll win the bet hands down, but is he in for a surprise. Sarah reluctantly falls head over heels in love with Sky. Outside forces are threatening to shut down the mission due to lack of attendance, and when Sky guarantees 12 sinners at the Sunday meeting, there's a stipulation. Sarah ends up going to Havana, gets terribly drunk and lets her hair down for the first time. But...back in New York sobered up, she turns Sky down, learning of the bet and that Detroit's floating crap game was held inside the mission. On the other side of the coin, Detroit is engaged to showgirl Adelaide (Stacy Huntington) - in fact, it's been an interminably long engagement of 14 years. Adelaide pressures Nathan to stop gambling and to marry her. They're so mismatched, it seems obvious that they should give up on each other...but, they are in love. In order to buy into the whole succession of events here, remember it's an entertainment. But it can't hurt if you believe in the power of love.

In Swerling's and Burrows' delightful book, there are lots of engaging moments. Adelaide alone is a hoot and a half, and the very idea that Sarah, a devout religious girl, lets down her guard for romance is enticing enough to keep the audience engaged, and particularly since Sky and Sarah are so damn appealing. Add to this Loesser's fantastic songs like "I'll know", "If I Were a Bell", the fun antics of "Adelaide's Lament" as well as her "A Bushel and a Peck", "Take Back Your Mink", "Sue Me" and then the rollicking "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat"! With such an entertaining score, how can Guys and Dolls lose? It's a fun show with spicy dialogue and shenanigans... and incredibly uplifting tunes.

Candlelight's cast, under the fast-paced, smooth direction of LaLonde, are terrific. Everman makes a real cool Sky and Grether possesses a lovely singing voice. Huntington is delightful as Adelaide, never copying but making the role totally her own creation. Hernandez conveys Detroit pretty straight forward. I would have preferred to see him more bumbling, with more comedic flair. In smaller roles, Hoyt stands out as Nicely Nicely with a great singing voice, as does John Nisbet as Uncle Arvide. Praise as well to Spenser Micetich as Harry the Horse, Emerson Boatwright as Big Jule and Orbison as Benny Southstreet, who also serves admirably as musical director. Kudos to Laurie Muniz as splendid choreographer, to Greg Hinrichsen for his colorful set design and to Merrill Grady for coordinating the colorful period costumes.

This is a show I can see over and over again, if it is executed well. Guys and Dolls is a hit... and Candlelight, with few exceptions, carries the Loesser blockbuster off with style.

As is to be expected, the food and service at Candlelight are top notch. $6 drink specials for Guys and Dolls are the delicious Havana Sangria and Luck Be a Lady.

http://www.candlelightpavilion.com/