It is amazing to see a community theater take on a really big production such as Youtheater and Patio's current production of Guys and Dolls. This Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows 1950s smash hit requires a cast of about 30. Many have to be triple threats (act, sing, dance). It has a well-known score and multiple sets. Most of the characters are based on Damon Runyon characters, which begin life as caricatures.
Patio's production is mixed; some very good performances and designs and some deficiencies. Director Richard Brousil cast the leads well. Co-director and musical director Mary Bright honed the leads and chorus to a fine point. Choreographer Ashley Luckow's creative dance designs play well. The Hot Box Girls' routines are highlights, most especially "Take Back Your Mink," a definite crowd-pleaser.
Kevin Jones gives his own special twist to Nathan Detroit. He is convincing as a guy capable of weaseling out of any promise, especially his 14-year marriage proposal to Miss Adelaide. She is perfectly played by Kristen Bauer. Bauer captures the essence of the loving chorine and Hot Box headliner. "Adelaide's Lament" is delightfully performed, and her duet with Jones, "Sue Me," is quite strong.
Sara Elliot is fine as missionary Sarah Brown. Her duet with Bauer in "Marry The Man Today" works extremely well, and her teaming up with Bob Himlin (Sky Masterson), on "I'll Know" is excellent. The first-act closer, "I've Never Been In Love Before," is charming. Himlin's solo, "My Time Of Day," is another crowd-pleaser.
Brian Weissman's Nicely Nicely Johnson is amusing. His "Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat" has the audience, as well as the cast, rocking. Scott Kolod's Benny Southstreet and David Garstang's Rusty Charlie work well. Craig Fowler's Harry The Horse and Michael Clark's Big Jule make a good team. The ensemble responsible for the Hot Box Girls, the female Havana dancers, and the Mission Band capture the various moods.
Director Brousil is also responsible for the set design, along with Theresa Green and Bob Caldwell. The mechanical design is intriguing. The street scene set turns into the mission interior, then becomes the stage for the Hot Box.
Guys and Dolls is presented in the Kit Carson Park outdoor stage. This is a very large stage with adequate wings, allowing for the large sets. Deborah Zimmer's showy lighting design works well for the production.
Ruri Ralston's costume designs well define the characters. A few of the costumes need alteration, though.
While Dan Townsend and David Farlow's sound design is nearly disastrous. There are mikes on the stage -- which might work if they were extremely omni-directional. Also, the principles are not miked, thus any lyric not directed at one of the three stage mikes comes in at a lower volume, which is distracting. The orchestra (which could use a couple more rehearsals) is balanced with the singers when their mikes pick them up.
The audience, the final judge of a production, loved the show. Comments during intermission and at the end were positive. It is nice to see Patio garner an audience much larger than their home venue can support. We wish them well.
