Review

Guys and Dolls
by Poway High School

This Broadway and film mega-hit is back on Broadway, and on Poway. It’s Guys and Dolls, the crowd-pleasing musical about gambling guys and the dolls that love them (but what to change them). And, as always, Poway High School comes up aces. And four aces lead the way as the two couples.

One of those couples includes floating crap game operator Nathan Detroit and his fiancé of fourteen years, exotic dancer Adelaide. JT Landon is a thoroughly likeable Nathan, an everyman struggling to juggle his crap career and his romantic life, and not juggling either very well, and working well with his counterpart Adelaide. Karina Gillette makes for a perfect Adelaide, with terrific personality, comedy, timing, and vocal work whether she’s lamenting her sniffling psychosomatic symptoms caused by an inordinately long engagement or leading her Hot Box Dolls at the club or breaking things off with Nathan – sort of.

The other couple, or potential couple, is the unlikely pairing of big-stakes gambler Sky Masterson and big-time holy roller Sarah Brown who is determined to save some sinners on the streets of New York City. Jacob Rollins is a gifted actor who captures emotions very well with excellent timing and authenticity, and a terrific voice to boot. Abigail Howe is Sister Sarah, a role that can be tough to stand out in, but she does so with a genuine, believable passion for her cause and for a certain sinner, with gorgeous operatic vocals. And some nice humor in If I Were a Bell after Sister Sarah drank a little too much Bacardi-flavored milk. Together they knock out their duet I’ve Never Been in Love Before, and Abigail joins Karina in a perfect Marry the Man Today (complete with visions of their gambler guys enjoying flower pots and happily cooking in a heart-covered apron).

The cast is full of strong voices and some good dancing by gamblers, Cubans, and Hot Box Dancers. The entire ensemble kick things off with some well-designed glimpses of New York City life including excited tourists, schoolgirls swarming stars, and a woman selling contraband out of a baby crib. Then the gamblers take the scene with Sunil Homes, Zach Jensen, and Tanner Boyack and their Fugue for Tinhorns. As Nathan’s assistant Nicely-Nicely, Sunil Homes is a hoot who specializes in Adelaide and Sister Sarah impersonations, and leads the cast as they rock the house in Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.

Performs February 6 - 14, 2009.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

~ Cast ~

Nicely-Nicely Johnson: Sunil Homes
Benny Southstreet: Zach Jensen
Rusty Charlie: Tanner Boyack
Sarah Brown: Abigail Howe
Arvide Abernathy: Thomas Lokensgard
Agatha: Emily Frisch
Calvin: Sean Gellenbeck
Martha: Jackie Rudeen
Harry the Horse: Tyler Vanderstel
Lt. Brannigan: Ben Pollack
Nathan Detroit: JT Landon
Angie the Ox: Josh Jensen
Scranton Slim: Stephen Roy
Brandy Bottle Bates: Ryan Hegstad
Miss Adelaide: Karina Gillette
Sky Masterson: Jacob Rollins
Joey Biltmore: David Baits
Mimi: Sydney Collett
General Matilda B. Cartwright: Chanell Tyce
Big Jule: Taylor Oyer
Society Max/Hot Box MC: Anthony Whitson-Martini
Havana Featured Dancers: Victoria Jarman, Kendra Berner
Havana Waiter: Ryan Hegstad

Hot Box Dancers:
Sydney Collett
Laura Fitzgerald
Diana Gremore
Theresa Kesser
Amanda Lenhart
Emilia Lopez-Yanez
Heather Paik
Kaitlyn Paik
Shelby Schreiber
Renee Swanberg

Havana Dancers:
Sydney Collett
Laura Fitzgerald
Theresa Kesser
Amanda Lenhart
Lainey Lipson
Heather Paik
Kaitlyn Paik
Shelby Schreiber
Renee Swanberg
David Baits
Tanner Boyack
Sean Gellenbeck
Joshua Hoh
Chad Holman
Michael Jacobson
Josh Jensen
Adam Pili
Ben Pollack
Stephen Roy
Anthony Whitson-Martini

Ensemble:
David Baits
Sean Gellenbeck
Ryan Hegstad
Joshua Hoh
Chad Holman
Nikhil Homes
Michael Jacobson
Adam Pili
Ben Pollack
Stephen Roy
Anthony Whitson-Martini
Kayla Breneman
Marly Davis
Odeliah Dorko
Anna Frisch
Emily Frisch
Brittany James
Lainey Lipson
Kimberly Monroe
Jackie Rudeen
Jennifer Thompson

Director: Lindsey Duoos Gearhart
Music Director: Nancy Gray
Orchestra Conductor: Sylvester Sybilski
Choreographer: Mandy Langen
Costume Designers: Pat Lokensgard, Jennefer Gillette, Christine Kesser, Robyn Wilson
Scenery Drops: Grosh Scenic Rentals
Sets: Stan Tyce, Kevin Gellenbeck, Garrett Moreau

   

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