Guys & Dolls – Forum Theatre, Romiley

This production is based on the stories and characters from the 1950 books written by Damon Runyon. These stories centred on the underground crime scene of the 1920s and 1930s and was written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows around the already established music and lyrics of Frank Loesser. The original Broadway production premiered in 1950 and has enjoyed numerous revivals over the years. The show is set in Times Square in New York City but moves along to Havana in Cuba and eventually into the underground sewers of New York, but by the end everybody ends up where they belong. The show was complimented with a live band conducted by the excellent Ed Nurse as Musical Director with, for me, a particularly impressive female reed section, although all the musicians played their parts to perfection.

The storyline is based around Nathan Detroit’s attempts to put together the money to set up the biggest craps game in town, while his girlfriend / fiancée, nightclub performer Adelaide, bemoans the fact that they have now been engaged for 14 years with still no sign of a wedding on the horizon. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson to raise the required funds, but he is too busy with his pursuit of missionary Sister Sarah Brown. Needless to say, by the end of the show all the cast arrived at the outcome which they wished for.

The show started with a brilliantly choreographed (Sally Hilliard and Heidi Fletcher) overture which made the stage come alive and this continued throughout the whole production. The characters where then gradually introduced during the opening scenes. Once again, the whole cast of this production were absolutely superb, and I particularly enjoyed Ivor Farley’s understated characterisation of Benny Southstreet.

The lead female parts in the show, Katie Longden as Adelaide and Francesca Bowman as Sarah Brown, were both excellent singers and brought their characters to life. A highlight of the show for me was when the 2 of them got together towards the end of the show to sing Marry The Man Today. The more well-known songs, like Luck Be A Lady Tonight and Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat, were delivered with the panache that has come to be expected from this company. I also particularly enjoyed Katie Longden singing Adelaide’s Lament and Francesca Bowman performing If I Were A Bell but these were only highlights from an outstanding set of musical performances.

Director Thom Copestake has once again put together a production of which the whole cast and crew at the East Cheshire Musical Theatre Company can be incredibly proud.

Special mention must go to the people in charge of the lighting and sound, who are often either overlooked or taken for granted. They did a wonderful job which enhanced the overall production.

This show was equally as good as last year’s production of Sister Act so I can only once again give it five stars. It continues until Saturday 29th April, and I believe tickets are still available for all nights at the Romiley Forum Theatre, so grab one if you can, I’m sure you will enjoy this production as much as I did. http://theeastcheshires.co.uk/index.html#

Reviewer: David S Clarke                                           

Reviewed: 25th April 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★