Talent Wins Out With Little Theatre’s ‘Guys and Dolls’
By Alicia Spates, Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.
Jun. 12–SULLIVAN — The Little Theatre-On The Square’s rendition of “Guys and Dolls” isn’t luck. It’s talent.
The Little Theatre starts its 51st season on the right foot with “Guys and Dolls,” which runs through June 22.
A lot of things caught my attention with this production. The set, for one. What an extraordinary set-up, with glowing signs, bright lights, drop-down backdrops and streaming curtains. It played out well for every scene.
The transitioning was well done. The stage was transformed from an outside city scene to Save-A-Soul mission headquarters to the Hot Box Nightclub to Havana, Cuba, and back again.
Unfortunately, there was a late start to the Wednesday afternoon production, and on top of that, there were a lot of microphone problems. If it wasn’t static, then the sound was going in and out through a majority of the show. This is something to fix.
Sound problems did not affect the orchestra, which did a wonderful job. The musicians played about 20 songs, including the opening medley, and provided flawless, beautiful music and stayed on task from beginning to end.
Kate Feerick showed off her amazing vocals as Sgt. Sarah Brown, who works to try and save souls in their neighborhood full of sinners. Playing a serious, saintly character, Feerick showed no mercy in turning Brown into a fireball at times, and when she “loosened up” with the song “If I Were a Bell,” she won the audience over with a good laugh.
TLC’s “Moving Up” and “Trading Spaces” star Doug Wilson mixed sly with debonair, and a hint of arrogance, in an ingenious way as gambler Sky Masterson.
You couldn’t find a better duo than Jack Milo and LoriAnn Freda, who played floating crap game organizer Nathan Detroit and his doll, Miss Adelaide. Milo was hilarious as the often-nervous, full-of-excuses Detroit, who has carried on a 14-year engagement to Miss Adelaide.
Freda also was perfect at Miss Adelaide. She had the voice. She had the mannerisms. She had the look. She had the whole audience convinced.
The playbill reports Freda has played the same role in “Guys and Dolls” in a Broadway Palm West production in Arizona. I have a feeling Little Theatre-On The Square won’t be her last time as Miss Adelaide.
The Hot Box Girls, led by Miss Adelaide, also put on a wonderful show with two hot-and-steamy performances, “A Bushel and a Peck” and “Take Back Your Mink.” The men, also known as the crapshooters, had most of the advanced dancing in this production. What looked like a hard thing to do with the space they were dealt with, the crapshooters proved space was not an issue in executing their wild moves.
There were a number of good performances in “Adelaide’s Lament,”"Sue Me” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” a company effort.
It was a pleasure meeting the newcomers to the Little Theatre stage with “Guys and Dolls.” With their opening performance, I believe they were showing that this production isn’t as good as it gets from them with the new season at hand. I’m looking forward in seeing the scope of their talent.
WHAT: “Guys and Dolls,” based on a Damon Runyan story, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, 2 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays. 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 22.
WHERE: Little Theatre-On The Square, Sullivan.
TICKETS: $28 adults, $26 seniors and children; call 728-7375 or 1-888-261-9675.
CAST: Eddie Schnecker (Nicely-Nicely Johnson); Travis Taylor (Benny Southstreet); Ben Martin (Rusty Charlie); Kate Feerick (Sarah Brown); Michael Haws (Arvide Abernathy); Lizzie Klemperer (Agatha); Chris Kernan (Calvin); Ashley Rubin (Martha); Jesse Barfield (Harry the Horse); Kyle Adams (Lt. Brannigan, Joey Biltmore); Jack Milo (Nathan Detroit); James Lee Glatz (Angie the Ox); LoriAnn Freda (Miss Adelaide); Doug Wilson (Sky Masterson); Eleni Kanalos (Mimi); Glory Kissel (General Matilda B. Cartwright); Joseph Rosko (Big Jule); Hot Box Girls: Kelli Stryker, Jennifer Noble, Ashley Rubin, Lizzie Klemperer, Eleni Kanalos; and Crapshooters: Blakely Slaybaugh and Chris Kernan.
DIRECTOR: Tralen Doler.
Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.
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Copyright (c) 2008, Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.
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