Clumsy lets LUCK BE A LADY at Guys and Dolls [3-18-09 Evening]

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 3/19/09 at 3:14am

Preface: I was in a high school production of Guys and Dolls my freshmen year, I played the role of Angie The Ox. Ever since that experience I have loved the music of the show and been very fond of it's cast of wacky characters and their surroundings.

I had never been to the Nederlander during RENT's run on Broadway, but it was nice to see the outside of the theater clean and looking very classic for Guys and Dolls. After several attempts at getting student rush, I caved and got a standing room after pushing it off for days, I really wanted to see what all the fuss about this production was: for the good and the bad.

I walked in to find there was no grand curtain for the show, but a single triangular-shaped metal frame with dice on it that lit up at the beginning of the act when the show began. I kind of had hoped for some lush red curtain or something classic, but the frame was.. flashy.

The sets were really well done and the use of visual screens to show the exterior was really a nice touch, so I give props to whomever thought of that. The opening to the show featuring Damon Runyon as a character was a bit out of left field, but was kind of a nice little touch that I'd never seen done before.

Lauren Graham was good, not great, but good. Her voice was a bit shaky but she did a decent job for her debut, but her Miss Adelaide was nothing special. I enjoyed her comic timing and her accent could have been better, but she was good. I hope that as time goes on she can sink deeper into the role and maybe make it work later on through the run. She looked good and danced-well in "Bushel and A Peck" and "Take Back Your Mink".

Kate Jennings Grant was really great as Sarah Brown, she truly inhabited all the elements of the character and truly gave a wonderful performance. Her voice was lovely [especially during "I'll Know" and "If I Were A Bell"] she and Craig had good chemistry together and she and Graham were good during "Marry The Man".

Craig Bierko was wonderful! I didn't realize until reading his biography in the playbill that he had played the Tom Cruise-esque character in Scary Movie 4. I was shocked to hear such a wonderful singing voice from the goofy guy from that movie, however said goofy man did not appear once on stage. Craig was cool, cocky and down right sexy as Sky Masterson, you find yourself feeling just as seduced by his charms as Sarah. His voice was really good, especially during "I've Never Been In Love Before" and "My Time Of Day" and the standard, "Luck Be A Lady".


Oliver Platt was good as Nathan, but he seemed a bit too neurotic to be this big time, crapshooter. He seemed like a crapshooter from an episode of Seinfeld or Curb Your Enthusiasm: Constantly with his hands in his pockets and always looking rather pained. Nathan is suppose to be nervous and a bit flustered, but not so much so. That being said, he was still fine and didn't bother me too much. His voice was good, but not great and the acting as I said, was a bit too neurotic but passable.

Tituss Burgess and Steve Rosen are good as Nicely Nicely Johnson and Benny Southstreet. Tituss needs to stop almost slipping into his Sebastian accent every so often, but he's trying and you can tell. His "Sit Down Your Rockin' The Boat" was full of soul and truly a highlight of the production. Steve was good for what little he did and he was very charming and funny whilst doing so.

Mary Testa is so fierce and I know that's cliche, but it's true. She brings so much sass to the smaller than small role of General Cartwright. Her ridiculous-ness toward the end of "Rockin' The Boat" was hilarious and had me laughing so hard and cheering for her. She truly brightened the stage when she was on it, and reminded me of why I fell in love with her during Xanadu.

Seeing Glenn Fleshler as anything other than the Adult Man in Spring Awakening, is odd, but seeing him dancing is almost too much. He does a great job as Big Jule and continues to intimidate people with his stature.

The ensemble which includes dreamboat Nick Adams dance through that stage like maniacs and look gorgeous whilst doing so. The Crapshooter's Dance is one of the highlights of the show, as is the Havana sequence. The ensemble gives their all to each dance and singing number and truly do a great job.


Overall, it was an enjoyable night of theater, and despite some of the less than stellar moments, I left with a smile on my face and music flowing through my head. Is it perfect? No. Is it the best revival of Guys and Dolls ever? Hardly, try 1992's. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would gladly go see it again.

Updated On: 3/19/09 at 03:14 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/19/09 at 3:27am

Check out YouTube for the Havana dance from the London production, and you'll see what we missed out on!