McGregor and Krakowsi 'Guys And Dolls' - FAB

[pattifan2]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 12:59pm

Saw this show last night. I should say that I did not see the Lane/Prince production but I saw the National's production a couple of times which seems the yard-stick over here for all productions of this show. Well, the Donmar production knocks the spots of the National's dice. It is a brilliant production on all levels. Firstly, the glitz is stripped away - putting all the emphasis on the characters. The basic skyline set is great - all faded black/white/gold lights like an old sepia photo and the Hot Box and Mission are flown in. The choreography by Rob Ashford is just wonderful and it was great to see from the front Dress seats. Runyonland and Crapshooters Dance were knockout. The orchestrations were superb, too. This is a real company show in the truest sense of the word, but the two couples never missed a trick. Grandage and his principles have done a great job of giving these characters real depth - Sarah in particular. I read they'd gone back to the source material for Sarah (which I'm not familiar with) but Jenna Russell let's you know that she's familiar with the souls that she's trying to save. This makes her relationship with Sky all the more believable - and that first kiss between them! WOW - chemistry! Not hard with Ewan who is so impressive. He uses charisma rather than cool - and he does have a good voice - great in 'Luck Be A Lady' and really nails the final money note. He has wonderful presence and makes a great Sky. And Jane Krakowsi is a superstar. She never misses a trick - not for a second. Her Adelaide is by turns hilarious, touching, sexy (Hot Box strip numbers sizzle) and vulnerable. Her realtionship with Doublas Hodge's Nathan is totally convincing as a result and it was great to hear the movie's 'Adelaide' in the show. The Havana scene was incredible - the best I've ever seen it. All the chaos going on but still clearly getting the action through it all. And when Sarah does 'If I Were A Bell' underneath that huge 'Moonstruck' moon - you really know she's fallen for him. And without spoiling anything, that moon changes shape for the finale - perfect! Good to see Nathan getting a 'steady' job at the end, too. Grab any chance you have of seeing this show. It was a great audience, too - going nuts at the end. Anyone else seeing it, please post your thoughts. Always good to hear other opinions.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 1:03pm

wowzers. i wish i could see this!

[timote316]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 1:23pm

I wish I could see it, too.

*fingers crossed for DVD release*

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 3:19pm

How were the supporting characters? Nicely-Nicely and Benny? How was "Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat"?


Cheers,

The Balladeer

[pattifan2]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:07pm

All the supporting cast were excellent - and 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat' was staged differently than I'd seen it before....not jumping up and down on the benches....whole company choreographed to fill the stage and they used the benches to create kind of a tableaux at times. It was snappier for it, really - and no encore. That was actually quite a good thing - leave 'em wanting more. And we did!

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:11pm

AHHHHHHHH AUGUST 2 MUST COME NOW!!!!




thanks for the review!

[jaded_october]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 4:17pm

"*fingers crossed for DVD release*"

hell yes.

[DreamFlyer22]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:39pm

You just totally made my day, pattifan2... I've been waiting impatiently for someone to give a substantive review of the show. THANK YOU!

I'm in a summer production of "Guys and Dolls" right now as Sarah and I really wish I had the $$ and time to go over to London and check the show out. It's nice to hear that they've re-incorporated "Adalaide" in to the show. How was "My Time of Day"/"I've Never Been in Love Before"?

Anyone know if there will be a cast album? (And I second- or is that third?- a DVD release!)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:50pm

wasn't "Adalaide" written for the film? I don't think it was cut from the original production or anything. if that's the case then they didn't re-incorporate "Adalaide" they just INcorperated it...

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:52pm

Reading this just made my day. I'm a huge Guys and Dolls fan - it was my first musical obsession (when I was 8.) and I'm an even bigger Ewan McGregor fan. Oh, for the money to go to London..