By TR Robertson Photos by Karli Cadel
One of the Classics of Broadway, “Guys and Dolls”, returns to the Moonlight Stage for the fourth time as they present this award-winning lighthearted, funny story of gangsters, gamblers, showgirls, mission workers, and New Yorkers. First on stage in Vista in 1985, returning again in 1995 and 2008 and running now until August 29th. “Guys and Dolls” first opened at the Shubert Theater in Philadelphia, then premiered on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers Theatre) on November 24, 1950. It would run for 1,200 performances. The musical won five Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Robert Alda), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Isabel Bigley), Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical (George S. Kaufman). It also won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical. The film version of the musical appeared in 1955 starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blaine. The movie would win a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Audiences will love Moonlight’s newest version of “Guys and Dolls”. Not only is the cast outstanding, the singing tremendous, the comic moments great, and the dance numbers amazing, but it is also visually stunning.
The opening New York City street scene, called “Runyonland” is movement and choreography at its best. The name is in tribute to Damon Runyon, who created most of the characters that appear, taken from his short stories “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” and “Blood Pressure”. The musical is from a book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling with Music by Frank Loesser. The Moonlight production is directed by award-winning director/actor Larry Raben along with award-winning Music Director and Conductor Elan McMahan leading the 18-member “Guys and Dolls Orchestra. Choreographing the large 30-member cast is Bill Burns, who has worked with several Moonlight productions.
An interesting feature of this production is two married couples in the leads of “Guys and Dolls”. Playing Sky Masterson, the slick gambler who finds himself unexpectedly falling in love with a Mission worker, Patrick Cummings, is returning to the Moonlight Stage. His real-life wife, Alessa Neeck, plays Sarah Brown, the Mission worker who also unexpectedly falls for the gambler Sky Masterson. Alessa is also returning to the Moonlight Stage. They both have strong voices that blend well in the songs “I’ll Know”, “If I Were a Bell” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before”.
The other married couple who play perfect New Yorkers are Steven Glaudini and Bets Malone. The award-winning Glaudini is Moonlight’s Producing Artistic Director and has both performed in and produced numerous Moonlight productions. In “Guys and Dolls” he is Nathan Detroit, the conniving gambler always trying to set-up a craps game somewhere. Glaudini’s wife, Bets Malone, plays Miss Adelaide, the long-suffering fiancé of Nathan Detroit and leader of the Hot Box Girls. Both Steven and Bets shine in their roles with absolutely perfect New York Bronx accents. Maybe living in New York early in their marriage had something to do with that. Their timing and comic demeanor when on stage together brings many a funny addition to the musical. Her “Bushel and a Peck” number and “Adelaide’s Lament” and “Take Back Your Mink” show the range Bets has.
Other standouts in the musical include Chase Lowary who plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Michael Paternostro who plays Benny Southstreet. Benny and Nicely are partners in crime with Detroit. Lowary’s strong voice and performance in “Guys and Dolls” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” bring a great crowd response. Ralph Johnson, who has been in numerous Moonlight productions in his 26 years with Moonlight Stage Productions, plays Mission worker Arvide Abernathy and has a chance to sing the emotional “More I Cannot Wish You” in Act II.
Assisting Director Larry Raben is Managing Director Shelby Caughron, Costume Coordinator Zoe Beers (making her debut with Moonlight), Stage Manager Melissa Bonilla, Video Designer Austin Dycus, Wig and Hair Designer Peter Herman (working in over 75 Moonlight productions), Associate Music Director Sadie Holdaway, Assistant Stage Manager Emily Mattson, Assistant Stage Manager Meagan Pitcher, Lighting Designer TJ Yurick, Sound Designer Jim Zadai and a large behind the scenes Production and Technical Crew.
The fourth musical in the 45th season, “Guys and Dolls”, will be on stage until August 29th. Tickets are available at www.moonlightstage.com or call 760-724-2110. The final musical for the season will be “Come From Away” beginning on September 9th.
