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Guys and Dolls, considered by critics to be among the greatest of all Broadway musicals, is the new challenge facing the budding thespians of St Christopher’s School, writes Anasuya Kesavan.
The senior school has gained a glowing reputation for its big-scale productions and rehearsals are now in full swing at a Saar auditorium where a young, talented cast of 50 students is preparing to delight audiences.
Brimming with confidence after acclaimed performances of Les Miserables last December, the youngsters will have to sing, dance and perform a series of memorable numbers like Sit Down, You’re Rockin’The Boat and Luck Be A Lady Tonight.
After three sets of auditions before narrowing down a cast, Ken Haggarty, musical director, said: “Having the chance to tackle works like Les Miserables and Guys and Dolls is a privilege. They were written for adult performers, so to find a school with ambition and a young cast with the ability to take them on is not easy.
“But, a young cast brings a degree of energy and open mindedness which is refreshing. We want to set the barriers high enough for the students to aspire to and stretch themselves.
“It’s a full Broadway production with all of the facets that implies – hard work, talented actors, professional programme, detailed costumes, funny lines, choreographed dances, beautiful sets and dedicated support teams.
“For me, the greatest joy is that fraction of a second when the curtain closes and the cast can let their guard down. Sometimes the microphones are left on for a bit and you can hear the cheers and tears of the cast above the applause of the audience. It’s a great moment!”
Guys and Dolls is a musical written and composed by Frank Loesser. It is based on The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown and Blood Pressure, two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably Pick the Winner.
Premiering on Broadway in 1950, the original production ran for 1,200 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical has had several Broadway revivals as well as West End productions. A 1955 film adaptation starred Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine.
Set at a time of change, it depicts America coming out of Depression. New York was emerging as a city which attracted all sorts including Sarah Brown, an upstanding and moral girl who works at the Save A Soul Mission, a high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson, in town looking for a game where he can bet his recent winnings from Las Vegas, and Nathan Detroit who is trying to set up a game in a location away from the prying eyes of the police and his long-term girlfriend, Adelaide.
There are a few familiar faces from previous school productions alongside many new faces amid the principal roles. Palmyra Matner and Robyn Durnford play the two lead female characters of Sarah and Adelaide while Ellis Cowling and Alex Farrell, who had less high-profile roles in Les Miserables, will act as Nathan and Sky.
Mr Haggarty added: “Guys and Dolls is one of the big Broadway musicals. This means it has several well known songs, solos and chorus numbers, a full pit orchestra, significant scene changes and a script that requires excellent comedic timing.
“The costumes have all to be made, and there are lots of them. There is a huge team of backstage dressers, make-up and hair support, stage crew, set design and technical help. It takes more than 300 people to produce the show.
“Singing and dancing form the core of the piece ... the other two significant challenges are ensuring the comedy is well timed and being able to carry a convincing American accent. Timing is the key to the former ... practice is the key to the latter. It’s a big challenge.”
Director William Goldring, who is new to Bahrain and the school, said: “Involvement in a production like this gives so many opportunities to develop self-confidence and belief, leadership skills and consideration and respect for others.”
Gillie van der Eyken, Kath Beck and Tony Thomas make up the rest of the production team. The show is sponsored by Behbehani Bros and GulfWeekly is the media partner. The show will be held on December 6, 7, 8 and 9 at the St Christopher’s School Hall in Saar. Tickets are priced for BD6.
