Theatre
Review
MUSICAI GUYS AND DOLLS
Playhouse, Edinburgh, until Sat 23 Jun, then touring O...
The latest industry to hop on the reality TV bandwagon, with shows like Any Dream Will Do and Grease is the Word, musicals are experiencing the biggest come back since Take That. Musicals are now cool (yes, even the Sound of Music) but some have been undeniably cool all along, including this tale of gamblers, rogues, dancers and do-gooders. Originally a Broadway hit, it has since managed to attract the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ewan McGregor and now Pop Idol’s persistent Darius Danesh.
The high rollers have arrived in town and it’s down to loveable rogue Nathan Detroit (Shaun Williamson) and his cronies to find a place for the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York, without the knowledge of his long term, desperate-to-be-wed girlfriend, Hot Box dancer Adelaide (Louise Dearman). In his desperation Nathan bets suave Sky (Danesh) a grand that he can’t take the mission doll, Sarah (Lynsey Britton), to Havana. Sky never loses a bet but with this doll it seems the odds are stacked against him.
Based on the 19505 characters and stories by Damon
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Runyon, it’s a tale of opposites, including right and wrong, love and hate, law and order and women and men. Women are searching for perfection and men are running from commitment.
Perhaps this musical’s success lies in these timeless human relationships or perhaps it’s down to Loesser’s irresistible feel good music. Either way you won’t be disappointed as the fast moving routines are executed by an energetic cast as they bound through the classic show stoppers such as ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’ and ‘Luck Be A Lady’, the latter accompanied by a captivating testosterone filled dance. All set against Christopher Oram’s urban backdrop of smoky clubs and shadowy streets.
While director Jamie Lloyd has perhaps missed some of the underlying moments of predetermined humour, he has managed to evoke unexpected comic moments created by his slightly caricatured characters. Ex- Eastender Williamson’s cheeky chappy has more charm than you could shake dice at and Danesh cuts an undeniably dashing figure as Sky, famously immortalised by Brando, who subsequently made anyone singing that role sound good. Dearman and Britton play their polarised characters admirably; the latter’s rendition of a blootered bible-basher after one too many dulce de Ieches is particularly memorable. For a night of cool entertainment, this is a safe bet. (Greer Ogston)
NI'W WORK OVER THE WALL Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 22 Jun
possibilities; for an anthem,‘ she says.
they don't expect.‘ Ronan explains.
TOURING WORK
IT TAKES TWO
Byre Theatre, St Andrews, Fri 22 Jun, then touring
‘One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.‘ Wilde's wisdom on love is quite germaine to this performance at the Byre Theatre. Scenes from his plays. among others. feature in Red Wine Productions' latest offering. Actor Alan Tricker explains: ‘It looks at love and relationships in a lighthearted way using extracts from popular writers of the twentieth century including Noel Coward. Dorothy Parker and Muriel Spark.’
'The piece combines plays. prose and poems with a little music, exploring different types of relationships at different times.‘ he says. ‘Work relationships. love. friendship and the teacher-pupil dynamic (viewed through the lens of Sparks The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) are all examined.
Devised by Carole Tricker, with music by Grace McIntosh and developed by the cast of three. It Takes Two opens at the Byre before touring Fife including an appearance at Crail Festival in July. Tricker comments. 'It will hopefully refresh people's memories of plays they've seen in the past or introduce them to plays they may want to see in the future.'
‘These plays are full of fun,‘ Tricker says. 'They attract a wide range of people because the language is so appealing. Wilde takes fOur lines to say something Coward covers in four words. but it's all funny. There's no great urge for the audience to walk out changed people. I hope they will walk out smiling.‘ (Greer Ogston)
George Peat. the new president of the Scottish Football Association. is calling for a new anthem to replace 'l-‘lower of Scotland', which he described as ‘einlxirrassing'. But there may well be more than a few football fans who object to such a suggestion. Theatre director Jo Ronan examined our national anthem. among other things. in January's successful An Evening of Political Song, elements of which are to be reprised for 7:84 contribution to refugee week. 'National pride can include an awful lot of things, it doesn't have to be a singularity that binds people together. so it's a good thing to make peeple consider
'The evening involves four final year RSAMD students working with two guest artists. Mark Rafferty and Arnaud Touanga. creating work using the image ‘over the wall'. which symbolises any kind of oppression. It uses theatre, music and song in a cabaret style.’ she says. ‘lt will incorporate existing texts from the likes of Sophocles and Shakespeare. Willi a devised piece about an oppressed town.’
‘There's also a Video about why people treat asylum seekers the way they do. We're trying to cross over different types of audiences and give people something
It looks set to be a vaned evening that's bound to entertain and raise awareness of an iii(:ieasingl\,« iinpoitant ssue. (Greer Ogston)