Guys and Dolls

Image (above) by Neil Bennett.

Eyebrows were raised when Opera Australia chose a 1950’s musical, set in grimy gambling dens around New York, for its annual outdoor production with the glittering Sydney Harbour and Opera House in the background.  

But all doubts were blown out of the water by this joyous and exuberant production.

Image by Neil Bennett.

On every front it is a winner. A sumptuous new orchestration from Guy Simpson, dazzling choreography from Kelly Abbey, gorgeous costumes from Jennifer Irwin and a brilliant cast to boot.

But let’s start with the set from Brian Thomson. The cartoon like quality of the characters is accentuated by the oversized New York yellow cab at the centre - which took 10,000 hours to build.

Like the bus in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert it is a character all of its own. It spins, doors and boot open for scene changes and characters climb all over it when needed.

Image by Carlita Sari

The stage was painted with yellow markings of a Manhattan Road and the band is aloft behind a one-way sign screen.

Choreographer Kelly Abbey uses the tarmac like platform to great effect.  Dancers sprint across the stage in one brilliant blur of colour and movement after another. The highlights include a sizzling “Luck Be A Lady Tonight” and the scene set in Cuba, which was the catalyst for the traditional fireworks.

The musical itself is chock full of sweet tunes, but the story is showing its age.

Image by Carlita Sari

Director Sean Rennie, making an outstanding debut steering the ship in a wholly new production, describes it as a story about taking risk.

There is the risk of rolling the dice in a game of craps, and also the risk of opening yourself to change.

Nathan Detroit (Bobby Fox) and his long-suffering fiancé of 14 years Miss Adelaide (Angelina Thomson) milked every bit of vaudeville schtick possible from their fraught relationship.

Cody Simpson as Sky Masterson is the whole package with a beautiful voice and that popstar charisma.  At 28 the Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist is already a superstar who has performed on Broadway. For sure he’ll get more offers from the great white way.

Image by Neil Bennett.

All that was missing was for him to rip off his clothes to reveal some speedos, put on some googles and butterfly swim around the stage!

Lucky opening night attendees got to see a host of Olympians in their finery at the after-show party, including of course Cody’s partner six-time Olympic Gold Medallist Emma McKeon.

Sky Masterson famously takes a bet to go on a date to Cuba with a member of the Salvation Army - Sarah Brown. Annie Aitken was charming in the role, singing in both musical and operatic style.

Image by Neil Bennett.

A motley of other gamblers all seized their moment to shine. Jason Arrow as Nice-Nicely brought the house down in “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat”, Thomas Campbell lisped perfectly as Lt Brannigan, John Xintavelonis oozed charisma as Harry the Horse and Doron Chester was an ironic Big Jule.

We don’t do stars at Stage Whispers but if we did, I would give this production five.

David Spicer