Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls
By Frank Loesser. (Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows). The Production Company (Vic). State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne. Director Gale Edwards. Musical Director Guy Simpson. Choreographer Nathan M Wright. Lighting Designer Robert Cuddon. Costume Designer Tim Chappel. 19th- 27th July 2014

A conglomerate of high-flying directors, stage actors past and present, and politicians and were on hand at the opening of this old favourite, featuring the slickly swingin’ strains of Orchestra Victoria atop a raised stage-wide scaffold.

Chelsea Plumley, resplendent in red coiffure, captivates as Miss Adelaide, effortlessly oscillating between fragility and resilience. Her robust solo work pairs cleanly with quirky physical comedy, although some lyrics were undecipherable in Take Back Your Mink tonight.

Bobby Fox’s (Nicely Nicely Johnson) performance is another high point, particularly with the company in a winning rendition of Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat, notable for slickly sensational choreography. I longed for a reprise, but was denied.

Marry the Man Todayis a cleverly written, and wrought, crowd-pleaser. The Crapshooters dance, Luck be a Lady, warmly received, and the ‘Hot Box Girls’ are delightful, making a pleasant change in an overwhelmingly male dominant script.

The State Theatre is a broad canvas, perhaps too wide for such a minimalist production. Creative lighting and a pleasing collection of costume changes (some to-die-for millinery) cover for this, with the focus firmly on cast and content.

Although one wonders though if the costuming isn’t rather too glamourous for the demographic and setting, this is a worthy production, and a feel-good night out, particularly in the second half where momentum swells. Good fun.

Lucy Graham

Images: Christopher Horsey, Adam Murphy and Bobby Fox; "Sit Down Your're Rockin the Boat"; Chelsea Plumley and the Hot Box Girls in "Bushell and a Peck"; Verity Hunt-Ballard and Martin Crewes & Adam Murphy, Chelsea Plumley, Martin Crewes and Verity Hunt-Ballard.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.