If you like your musicals to appeal to both the gambler and the lover in you, then Guys and Dolls is the one for you.
This classic 1950s musical tells the story of Nathan Detroit – an irrepressible gangster just trying to run his “floating crap game” in the face of pressure to get married from his long-suffering showgirl fiancé Adelaide - and Sky Masterton - the man who will bet on anything - and his challenge to get the prim Missionary Sara to come and drink rum in Havana with him.
However, just as Adelaide laments Nathan “just for wating around for that plain little band of gold, a person can develop a cold”, waiting around for the audience to get into the mood for a good toe-tapping musical at lunchtime in C Electric can almost definitely give you flu. That’s not to say that Ready Ay Ready aren’t a talented bunch, as they most definatley are and it’s a credit to them that they can put on an entertaining show despite the audience’s distinct lack of enthusiam.
Amongst the young cast were glimmers of special talent, in particular Sky, who is sure to have a good acting career ahead of him, and Nicely Nicely Johnson who did an impressive turn with more than a little Frank Spencer about him. The show is well produced and directed, with some well-executed dance numbers and naughty showgirl outfits (yes at lunchtime!) to gee-up the crowd. Basically, all the elements are there bar a little bit of enthusiasm from the floor.
3/5
Kate Hopper
