Review by Grace Swadling
There’s a buzz in the air down at the harbour as Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour makes a triumphant return with Guys and Dolls. Director Shaun Rennie has dragged this Broadway classic into the modern age, infusing it with sex appeal, pizzaz and sparkle for a rollicking romp through high energy numbers and 1920s romance. Guys & Dolls premiered on Broadway in 1950 and is considered one of the most classical musical theatre favourites. Rennie and his team have taken this undeniably heteronormative musical and given it a campy, flamboyant makeover - it’s flashy, sexy and vibrant, completely re-energising this good ol’-fashioned musical.
The atmosphere on opening night was amazing; the weather turned up for the star-studded audience, who were treated to jazz music and drinks aplenty as they entered on a red carpet - a huge shout out must be given to the volunteers who absolutely brought the good vibes, offering to take photos for everyone coming in. The opening number completely set the tone for the production and showcased impressive athleticism and energy. The ensemble were all completely fantastic and helped carry the show by filling the vast stage with life throughout Kelly Abbey’s impressive choreography. The steamy dance number in Havana was a particular highlight and the cast looked like they were having the time of their lives amidst the backdrop of fireworks.
International recording artist Cody Simpson makes his Australia musical theatre debut as Sky Masterson and he completely brought the charm and swagger of a 1920s high roller, oozing chemistry (“yeah, chemistry”) opposite Annie Aitken as Sarah Brown, whose impressively powerful voice perfectly suited the era. Bobby Fox brought charm and hilarity, as well as a touch of sweetness as the resourceful Nathan Detroit. However it was Angelina Thomson as Miss Adelaide who completely stole the show, bringing equal parts comedic timing and high kicks to the role. Thomson’s Hot Box burlesque numbers were total highlights of the night, only enhanced by Jennifer Irwin’s dazzling and raunchy costume designs.
Jason Arrow brought his comedic chops to the role of Nicely Nicely Johnson, which at first seemed an odd casting choice as he was a little underutilised. However, he absolutely showcased his musical theatre prowess during the titanic “You’re the Rocking the Boat” much to the delight of the audience. Did the number need 3 reprises? Probably not. Was it absolutely iconic? Yes, it was. As a long-time fan of the Hayes Theatre, it was also lovely to see Joel Granger graduate to a much larger stage and he delighted as Benny Southstreet. Rounding out the cast were some notable performances by Thomas Campbell as Lt Brannigan, Naomi Livingstone as General Cartwright and Doron Chester’s slightly bizarre but interesting interpretation of ‘Big Jule’ as a frenzied (and coked-up) lunatic.
Guys and Dolls is a perfect choice for this unique type of production; the Sydney skyline is absolutely gorgeous and provided a pseudo-New York backdrop which only enhanced the incredible stage design by Tony Award-winner Brian Thomson. The set was a hyper-realistic, larger than life playground for the cast and crew to run around in, complete with the aesthetically astounding giant yellow New York Taxi cab. Not only was this visually striking, it also provided a versatile set piece for the cast to climb all over and was used creatively throughout the show. In another stroke of pure genius, the orchestra were above the set behind the silhouette of a one way sign, led by acclaimed musical director Guy Simpson and indicative of a glittering New York cityscape.
Although women don't love being called dolls anymore, much of the fun of this timeless classic still holds up. Rennie’s production highlights how the social binaries of good/bad, sinner/saint don’t always hold up, and aims to show how living in the grey is what makes life interesting, all told through soaring romantic ballads and energetic ensemble dance numbers! Whether you’re heading down for the first time or a seasoned veteran, I’d recommend getting there early to soak up the sun and just enjoy the atmosphere. The spectacle of this production is almost as special as the actual show itself and even if you’re not a huge musical theatre fan, this will certainly be a fantastic night out on the town.
