Echoing the success of the West End revival that opened in 2015, the Guys and Dolls UK Tour provides an outstanding production of Frank Loesser’s classic musical.
Set in New York, Nathan Detroit is a middle aged gambler who has been engaged to his fiance Miss Adelaide for 14 years, a woman who is desperate to get married but Nathan just can’t get the money together. Nathan makes a bet with young gambler Sky Masterson that he won’t get the beautiful church missionary Sarah Brown to go to Havana with him. After Sky wins the bet, himself and Sarah inevitably fall in love but Sky feels guilty that their love blossomed because of his bet and he insists they can’t be together because he isn’t good enough for her.
Amongst all the slapstick comedy twists and turns, it’s a production that has that ageless feel with a modern edge.
Set designer Peter McKintosh doesn’t hold back when it comes to the glamorous bright lights and extravagant staging. The classic tale is brought to life using contemporary set design, giving it a modern and up to date feel whilst still maintaining the elegance and timelessness of the musical.
Musical Theatre icon Louise Dearman plays the warm-hearted comedic role of Miss Adelaide, she gives an excellent performance of the ditzy hopeless romantic. Her comedy timing is superb and her energy and commitment to the role is faultless. Not to mention her illustrious powerful vocals appear effortless and provide sensational highlights throughout the show. Maxwell Caulfield stars alongside her as the suave gambling fiance Nathan Detroit, he brings charisma and wit to the role.
Bethany Lindsell is an excellent fit for the role of naive and honest Sarah Brown. I thoroughly enjoyed her modern take on the role whilst also maintaining the legit vocal style, capturing the character exceptionally, although her vocals appeared weak and were lost in some of the duets. Her love interest and cocky New Yorker Sky Masterson played by Richard Fleeshman, gives a highly convincing performance. Fleeshman is vocally outstanding, the jazzy tones in his voice are oozing with allure. He performs Luck be a Lady with sublime style, his chemistry with Bethany Lindsell is compelling. 
Choreographers Carlos Acosta and Andrew Wright have created a masterpiece, using inspiration from both ballet and street dance, the choreography is slick and the energy is electric. Particularly during the steamy cuban dance scene and the show stealing number Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat which had the audience roaring with applause.
Jack Edwards plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson, who gives the testimony Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat has a tremendous comedy duo with Mark Sangster, they excel in their number Guys and Dolls, a hilarious performance with precision, really creating the sense of old-school musical theatre.
Guys and Dolls is a flawless revival that is bound to leave you dancing out of the theatre, a show with hysterical comic scenes and phenomenally choreographed musical numbers.
Guys and Dolls is at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until the 23rd of July and tickets can be found here.
