Guys and Dolls

It’s fascinating that a show for grownups - with themes of gambling, crime and corruption, set in the seedy, crazy world of 1950s New York gamblers and show girls - can be performed so sweetly and cleverly by a youth theatre group, and still seem authentic. Some of these themes are commonplace nowadays, but for the time in which it was set, Guys and Dolls was risqué. Sure the Musical Theatre Crew production lacked the grittiness that we expect from this show, but the youth of the performers, with their expertise and enthusiasm, seemed to sail over the top of the seedy subject matter. The Musical Theatre Crew are aged between 14 and 19 years and performed like the professionals that they’re training to be. Each year MTC’s Senior Crew includesguest adult performer-mentors. Jeff Michel was engaging as Lieutenant Brannigan alongside the gentle tenor of Andrew Hawkey as Brother Arvide.

This was a very high standard production. Director Leiz Moore presented a fast, energetic and slick production. With a cast of 36, some of the cast members were alternating roles.

The ensemble/chorus work was excellent. Fantastic choreography by Mandy Lowrie - complicated but slickly executed routines - especially in the scene where the dancers did acrobatic moves - the dancers were so supple. The Mission band was convincingly soul-saving.

This was a seamless production – a visual feast. The sets were good, and the crew were slick with changing scenes, but the action was so fast, and the performers were so riveting, that I hardly noticed them. Is this a good sign that the whole is better than the sum of its parts? All of the elements came together.

Lead female Jamie Mollineaux-Herbert was wonderful, her transition from the uptight Salvationist to the good time girl in Havana was wonderful, and funny. David Abbott gave an assured interpretation of “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” and Alex Donnelly performed “Luck Be a Lady Tonight” with beautiful voice and clear diction.

An excellent production, with a full cast, full of good performances - Musical Theatre Crew is a good training ground for future artists.

Merlene Abbott

Photographer: Kath Chapman