October 26, 2012
La VitrineOctober 25, 2012
By Safia Dodard
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Confession time: I watch Glee religiously and I LOVE it! Musicals are one of those things that everybody enjoys, just like Jamiroquai, dolphins and Maple Syrup. Singing, Dancing and Acting all under one roof… what’s not to like? Despite my boundless love for Broadway and Musicals, Guys and Dolls (presented until October 31st at the Segal Centre), is my second time attending one.
I will never forget my first time… My roommates and I had missed Swan Lake that was featured at the Sydney Opera house by a couple of weeks and we’re really bummed. We redeemed ourselves by attending the Australian debut of Billy Elliot at the Sydney Capitol. What a show! Guys and Dolls took me right back to the delightfulness that are musicals. Even my jaded friend whom I dragged as my +1 loved the show. We got carried away in a twirl of catchy songs, colourful costumes, funny jokes and absurd situations. Maybe next week I’ll trick her into seeing Pitch Perfect with me…
Time Magazine claimed that Guys and Dolls is “The greatest of all American Musicals”, winning five Tony awards when it first appeared on Broadway in 1950. The stars of the Montreal production also had big shoes to fill after the legendary performance of actors such as Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine and Jean Simmons in the Hollywood Film, which won two Golden Globe awards. Having been pleasantly surprised by Diana Leblanc in the last play she directed, Same Time Next Year, I knew that I was going to be in for a fun time.
Nicely Nicely (Mike Paterson) was outstanding in my favorite number of the show “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”; he is just so lively and fun! I also loved the scene in Havana, which brilliantly showcased the talent and range of choreographer Jim White. Having a live band on stage (with Nick Burgess as musical director) added that special touch that just tied everything in for me. The small and intimate setting of the Segal Centre made everything larger than life. There was so much going on at once and in today’s age of having a short attention span and multitasking, this was awesome because you always had sooooo much to look at! With a very large cast of 24 actors, the entertainment factor was sky high with so many people on stage at once doing different funny things.
Even though I’m far from having the best fashion sense (I leave this to my friend Janna), I always find myself drawn to the costumes when I attend a play. This time, Michael Eagan, the set and costume designer, succeeded in recreating that 1940’s NYC setting. The men, wearing stereotypical pin striped flashy suits with their fedoras, really portrayed the sly nature of these New York City gamblers. During the dinner date between Miss Sarah Brown (Tracy Michailidis) and Sky Masterson (Scott Wenwtorth) in Havana, you could feel Sarah losing her inhibitions and letting go of all of her self-restraints. The portrayal of the inebriated date was done gracefully with the change of her red Mission band uniform into a more relaxed and casual look in order to fit with the colourful, sexy and flamboyant Cuban scene.
With only a few more performances to go, thanks to an extended preview period until the end of the month, Guys and Dolls is a must see show. An intimate setting with a great cast will leave you smiling, dancing, AND with jazz hands, all the way home.