"Guys and Dolls" presented by Artisan Center Theater

GUYS AND DOLLS
play program

A dear friend and The Travelling Toe enjoyed the Saturday afternoon performance of "Guys and Dolls" presented by Artisan Center Theater.

The play is based on several short stories by Damon Runyon, a noted New York newspaper columnist.  The play had it's Broadway premiere in 1950, where it won the Tony Award for Best Musical.  

Damon Runyon

The play tells the romantic story of 2 couples - Sgt Sarah Brown, Sky Masterson, Nathan Detroit and his long-time fiance Adelaide.  Both Sky and Nathan are "professional" gamblers.  Sarah works at the Salvation Army, "Save-A-Soul Mission"  and Adelaide is a showgirl at The Hot Box nightclub.

Nathan is trying to find a spot for his floating crap game and to stay one step ahead of 
Lt Brannigan, who is out to stop any illegal gambling from going on in his part of NYC.  Nathan, desperate for money, bets Sky that he can't make a certain girl fall in love with him and Sky takes the bet.  Well, that certain girl turns out to be prim and proper Sgt Sarah Brown.  Sky in turn makes a bet with Sarah that if she goes with him to Cuba then he will produce 12 sinners at the next meeting at the Salvation Army Mission. Knowing that the mission will be shut down without some soul saving going on, Sarah goes to Cuba with Sky.  But not without life changing consequences for them both.

This is a funny and cute play.  There are lots of great character names in it from Nicely-Nicely, to Harry The Horse, and even mobster Big Jule,  There are so many wonderful songs in the play such as:

Guys and Dolls
If I Were A Bell
I've Never Been In Love Before
Bushel and a Peck
Luck Be  A Lady Tonight

At the performance we attended, we enjoyed the actor who played Nicely-Nicely as he did a wonderful rendition of "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat".  And all the "boys" were just super in the crap shooting scene singing and dancing to "Luck Be a Lady Tonight".

Artisan Center Theater is a local community theater where actors are not reimbursed for their performance but do it for the love of theater.  

Go and see this production - you will not be disappointed.   Support local live theater!