Saturday, February 7 was the coldest night in many years however, thanks to Norwalk’s DPW and Police Dept. the huge auditorium at Norwalk City Hall was packed for Norwalk Symphony’s concert version of “Guys and Dolls.”
Under Music Director Jonathan Yates and Stage Director Kristin Huffman, the production made full use of the stage and theater aisles without distracting from the musicians and with just a few added props, the show’s scenery was hardly missed. What made the concert even more enjoyable is the fact the theatre, which now adjoins Norwalk’s City Hall, was once part of the Old Norwalk High School and its acoustics are incredible. Here, the musical was performed by a costumed cast of professional, singing actors as well as a mixed group of local folks. Even conductor Yates played a part and warmed the audience’s appreciation further.
“Guys and Dolls” takes place around 1930’s and pokes fun at petty gangsters who fought for gambling rights and territorial power. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows and original choreography by Michael Kidd, it’s no wonder that the show won five Tony Awards when it premiered on Broadway in 1950. This highly entertaining musical is loaded with popular song-sequences: “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck be a Lady Tonight,” “If I were a Bell,” etc.
In Norwalk, the two “Dolls” were “Adelaide” (Desi Shurelds Amato) and “Sarah” (Heidi Giberson). “Adelaide” suffers from a persistent allergy due to being engaged to gangster leader “Nathan Detroit” (Brian Ray Norris) for 14 years and still not married. “Sarah” is the attractive “Save the Soul” missionary who captures slick, “Sky Masterson’s “(Edward Watts) affections. Amato has a pleasant voice and her rendition of “Take Back Your Mink” made a big hit — especially with women in the audience who hadn’t worn their fur coats in years until that frigid evening. Both Heidi Giberson and Edward Watts rich voices and acting abilities were outstanding. The “Cuban Milkshake” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” were this show’s most memorable sequences.
The gangster’s names and matching characters were very funny: “Nathan Detroit’s” main job is to seek locations for his gang’s illegal crap games along with other followers of the trade: “Harry the Horse” (Lou Ursone), “Rusty Charlie” (Cristopher Andrade), “Bennie Southstreet” (Vincent McCoy). Nicely-Nicely Johnson” (Max Sander) and “Big Julie” (Dominic Mantuano). There has to be an unfriendly, Irish cop to outwit — he is simply called, “Lt. Bannigan” (John Moran). “Arvide Abernathy” (Thomas Woodman) and “ General Matilda Cartwright” (Raissa Katona Bennett) are the “Save the Soul” Missionaries.
Don’t miss Norwalk Symphony’s next offering: “ Symphonie Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz-Sun. Mar. 22.
