Guys and Dolls has been a popular musical production since it was first performed in 1950. It was originally conceived by producers Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin and they signed Frank Loesser to write the music and lyrics. George S. Kaufman was hired as the director and Michael Kidd as the choreographer.
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The first version of the show’s book was written by Jo Swerling based on the short stories of Damon Runyon, the American newspaperman and author. These stories included The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown and Blood Pressure and to a lesser degree Pick the Winner. They were written by Runyon in the 1920s and 1930s and they focused on the charm and eccentricities rather than the criminal activities of the gangsters and gamblers of the New York underworld. The first version of the book, written by Jo Swerling was deemed unusable and Feuer and Martin asked radio comedy writer Abe Burrows to write a new version of the book.
The show opened on Broadway on November 24, 1950 starring Robert Alda (father of MASH’s Alan Alda) as Sky Masterson, Sam Levene as Nathan Detroit, Isabel Bigley as Sister Sarah and Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide. It ran for 1200 performances and won five Tony awards for Best Musical, Director (George S Kaufman), Choreographer (Michael Kidd), Lead Actor (Robert Alda) and Featured Actress (Isabel Bigley).
Since then Guys and Dolls has had 10 Broadway and London revivals, as well as a 1955 film adaptation starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons (using their own voices, despite neither being known for their singing), Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide.
In 2008, a successful Australian version opened in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre which then transferred to Sydney after a successful season. It starred Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Garry McDonald, Ian Stenlake, Shane Jacobson, Wayne Scott Kermond, and Magda Szubanski (playing the male character Big Jule).
The show has been performed by professional and amateur theatre companies and by many schools and it is praised as a classic musical comedy.
It is less than three weeks to opening night so book now so you don’t miss the opportunity to see this wonderful musical here in Batemans Bay. Tickets are available online at www.baytheatreplayers.org.au or come to the Playhouse at 33 Gregory Street, Batemans Bay on Saturdays only from 10am-12noon. There are 18 performances from October 27 through to December 1.
