GUYS AND DOLLS

Vintage Theatre: February 14 to March 23

                L-R: Jessica Sotwick and Nicole Cherecwich

It may be cold outside, but Vintage Theatre's production of GUYS AND DOLLS is the HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN!!! It's the perfect antidote to the doldrums created by the evening news.

Let it be known from the outset that this review is going to be a flood of accolades!

    Carter Edward Smith's direction of this superbly entertaining show is sensationally well done. His casting is phenomenal! All four leads are outstanding, and the talented ensemble fills the stage with turbo-charged dancing and singing. 

     With book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling and Music by Frank Loesser, the musical "Guys and Dolls" is based upon two short stories by Damon Runyon. In 1950 this musical won the Tony for Best Musical, and was adapted for the screen in 1955 starring Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons.   The show is chock-full of great old songs, that have long been considered golden standards. "Luck Be a Lady," "A Bushel and a Peck" and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" are just a few of these. Runyan's stories all take place in the twenties and thirties in New York City.  The characters are for the most part, gamblers and gangsters. Well, except for the pious folk who run the Save-a-Soul Mission on Broadway.

     Nicole Cherecwich is enchanting as Sarah Brown, the Mission Doll. It's obvious that Ms. Cherecwich has had operatic vocal training. With her singing of"I've Never Been in Love Before" and "If I Were a Bell I'd Be Ringing," this actor unspools a voice that's a ribbon of musical delight. 

    Justin Milner delivers Sky Masterson's vocals with power! His singing of "My Time of Day" is magnificent!

    Jessica Sotwick's acting and singing in the role of Miss Adelaide is exceptionally well delivered. This actor has a natural comic flair. Her singing of "Take Back Your Mink" and "Adelaide's Lament" are musical theatre ice cream.

    Scotty Shaffer's acting in the part of Nathan Detroit is a comic delight. "Sue me," the duet he has with Ms. Sotwick, is hysterical.

  Brian Trampler gives us Arvide's "More I Can Not Wish You," with heart-opening tenderness.

     David Kincannon knocks it out of the park with his outrageously fun delivery of "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat!"   

The talents of Cooper Kaminsky (Benny Southstreet), Patrick Brownson(Harry the Horse) and Eliot Clough(Lieutenant Brannigan) spice things up considerably.

 Transporting us to New York City in the 1930s, Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry's costume design is spot-on. 

Dallas Slankard's choreography exhilarates.

Tanner Kelly's music direction is ear-pleasing indeed!  

     Brendan T. Cochran's sun-splashed urban set design conspires with Emily Maddox's lighting design to create a visually delightful evening.

for tickets call 303-856- 7830 or go online at vintagetheatre.org