‘Guys and Dolls’ // Ipswich Musical Theatre

‘Guys and Dolls’ was slick.

It’s the rip-roaring, dice-rolling, rollicking musical romantic comedy that follows the unlikely unions between a high-rolling gambler and a puritanical missionary, and a showgirl dreaming of the straight and narrow and a crap game manager who is anything but.

First premiering on Broadway in 1950, ‘Guys and Dolls’ ran for 1200 performances and won five Tony Awards including Best Musical. It has since been revived several times across the globe as well as a 1955 film adaptation starring Frank Sinatra. As director Robbie Parkin describes, ‘Guys and Dolls’ is “the quintessential American musical comedy” and Ipswich Musical Theatre has done an exceptional job bringing it to life.

It’s clear that director, Robbie Parkin went all out with his vision for this production and it worked a treat.  The impressive physical set design by Chris White and built by Andre Branda-Pawlaczyk and Mark McDowell took us from the bustle of Times Square to the warm lights of Havana. As each set piece was sizeable to immerse the audience in the world, scene transitions could easily have felt stilted with manoeuvring such impressive sets, however, Parkin’s skilful direction meant that every scene transition was seamless and tailored to the scene, so nothing felt disruptive. Parkin’s use of LED screens by CPC Productions to create the backdrop and masterful lighting choices designed by Owen Forsyth and Bryce Delany further helped build the world and create atmosphere, as well as stunning costume design by Delma Odger.

The musical direction under Peter Laughton was beautiful, bringing out spectacular harmonies in these classic songs and setting to the big brass sound of a live 18-person orchestra. It was very exciting to see the musicians get their moment in the spotlight at the start of act two in Miss Adelaide’s club, the Hot Box as they were projected via a live feed onto the upstage backdrop as if they were the Hot Box’s performers. 

The absolute stand-out element of Ipswich Musical Theatre’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ was the innovative choreography by Simon Lind that lifted every scene and gave the show a whole lot of momentum. From the featured dancers backing up Miss Adelaide in their cabaret show, to the spicy Havana number, to the gangsters in the sewers of New York, Lind’s choreography was quirky, fresh and fun. Particular highlights included his clever and captivating choreography between both the dancers and gangsters in ‘Luck Be A Lady’ and the sharp, rollicking whole cast group movements in ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat’.  Lind’s choreography was brought to life with gusto by not just the featured dances but also the rest of the talented ensemble who were highly committed, polished and brought such energy to the stage. This was evident from the very first scene set to ‘Runyonland’ as we enter Times Square and witness a cacophony of the moving essence of New Yorkers, with highly styled physicality by Lind and Parkin brightly setting the tone for all that was to come. 

The skill of the production team was absolutely mirrored in the performers. Jacob Ballard was captivating as Sky Masterson. Combining silky, smooth vocals with a whole lot of gravitas, humour and warmth, Ballard delivered a performance that wouldn’t have felt out of place on the professional stage and had very believable chemistry with Samantha Sherrin as Sister Sarah Brown. Samantha Sherrin was a standout in her role as the puritanical missionary torn by her feelings towards gangster, Sky. Sherrin portrayed a strong character which came through not just in body but also in voice as she commanded gorgeous classical soprano notes mixed with a powerful belt which added a whole new dimension to the character not commonly heard. She held exceptional comedic timing and physicality, especially in her drunk Havana scenes, and was an absolute joy to watch.

As the showgirl and the crap game manager battling through their fourteen-year engagement, Kaitlyn Burton as Miss Adelaide and Russell Morgan Nathan Detroit were the classic will they/won’t they couple. Burton was hilarious and heart-warming as ditzy yet fierce showgirl Miss Adelaide. She nailed the iconic accent and her comedic timing didn’t miss a beat. While Nathan Detriot is a fundamentally irritating character, Morgan makes him lovable and endearing. With strong vocal choices, physicality and characterisation throughout, Morgan was totally immersed in the role. 

Leading the motley crew of gangsters Stu Fisher as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and James Burton as Benny Southstreet brought a Morecambe and Wise energy to their double act as they performed the title number ‘Guys and Dolls’ with much flare. The two were hilarious throughout and Fisher’s performance leading one of the most famous songs from the show ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat’ was an absolute showstopper. The whole ensemble of gangsters had a natural chemistry and were a delight to watch. 

As Arvide Abernathy, Sarah Brown’s grandfather, Grant Couchman delivered a moment of still amid the fast-paced, high-octane show with a heartfelt and tender performance of ‘More I Cannot Wish You’.  

Ipswich Musical Theatre’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ is an absolute triumph and easily one of the best community theatre productions I have seen this year! From slick direction to exceptional performers, rollicking choreography and joyful musical numbers, the whole cast and crew should be highly commended for bringing this classic to the stage with the authenticity of the original subject matter while injecting a whole new level of pizazz.

‘Guys and Dolls’ performed until Sunday, 15 September 2024. Keep up to date with future productions on the Ipswich Musical Theatre Company website.