The arrival of the big blue tent on Frinton Greensward can only mean one thing: it’s the finale of the Frinton Summer Theatre season!
No big top by the beach would be complete without a West End musical and this year it’s ‘Guys & Dolls’.
Set within the colourful and gritty New York gambling scene of the 1940s, this show is about the hustlers, the showgirls, the bid for salvation and love – in all its incarnations and complications.
Nathan Detroit (Fabian Soto Pacheco) is a gambling man. He’s broke and in need of a place to host his craps game (a dice game where players bet on the outcomes of the roll of a pair of dice), but Lieutenant Brannigan (Barry O’Reilly) is hot on his tail. Also, his doll Miss Adelaide (Josephina Ortiz Lewis) is getting angsty after a 14-year engagement and is wanting to get married. To make matters worse, a big roller, Sky Masterson (Lenny Turner) is in town, so Detroit’s chance to make some bucks in on the line. How will his big bet with Sky turn out when he involves Sargent Sarah Brown (Isabella Gervais) in his complicated mess to make some moolah – you’ll just have to watch the show!
The beauty of the big top is the theatre-in-the-round, otherwise known as a central stage. This means the audience has an all-round view of all action happening – and about to happen on stage. It is no mean feat to ensure all members of the audience can see the action, but under Janie Dee’s direction, not once did I feel like the actors were playing to another three sides of the tent!
The other absolute treat is the live band and the choir who under the musical direction of Neil Somerville keep you entertained throughout. The music and lyrics are by Frank Loesser, a gifted songwriter, and include such hits as ‘Luck be a Lady’.
‘Guys & Dolls’ is a big show and from the outset you feel like you’re watching a West End show transported to Frinton – such is the ensemble of a talented cast and big choregraphed numbers. The scene in Havana along with the song ‘Sit Down’ were my favourites, but Sarah Brown also has a voice that packs an absolute punch. While Miss Adelaide is entertaining in her quest for long term commitment.
It’s strange to think ‘Guys & Dolls’ first premiered in Broadway in 1950, because 75 years on, it’s still a show that resonates and entertains. Frinton is lucky to have such talent on its doorstep, or should I say beachfront!
‘Guys & Dolls’ runs until 6th September at the Big Top on the Greensward with tickets available at https://fst-odes.co.uk/products/
Reviewer: Samantha Collett
Reviewed: 26th August 2025
North West End UK Rating: