Guys and Dolls Totally Rocked My Boat

I grew up with Guys and Dolls. We listened to it in the car on the way to grandparents, we sang along to it in the kitchen while doing the washing up, I never understood anything they were singing about but I knew I LOVED it.
As I grew older, the words started making more sense, I realised that I was a bit like a mish-mash of Sarah and Adelaide and I hoped with all my heart that someone would come along with strong moral fibre, with wisdom in his head and a pipe with a homey-y aroma to sweep me off my feet. Even though I hate pipes.
I’ve been to see this Frank Loesser Broadway classic countless times, but still I was hugely excited to see it again at one of my favourite theatres in all of London – the Savoy Theatre. It’s so gorgeous and glamorous and timeless… you can almost believe that you are existing in the early 1930s, the era when Guys and Dolls is set…

Seeing the wonderful David Haig and ridiculously talented Sophie Thompson come together again in Gordon Greenberg’s revival is such an OBVIOUS partnership. It’s like the roles were written for them… and of course I couldn’t stop thinking about them bouncing about on the bed in Four Weddings and a Funeral. They were stellar together, just as they were back then.

A huge shout out to the superb Gavin Spokes who was more Nicely Nicely than Nicely Nicely himself could ever have been… he rocked that boat more than I’ve ever seen it rocked before… and the extraordinary Jamie Parker as Sky Masterson and gorgeous Siobhan Harrison as Sarah were a match in Cuban Cocktail heaven… one of my favourite scenes in the show.
The dancing was extraordinary, the energy on the stage bounced off it like lightning and I was in Poppy heaven and on my feet.

If you’ve never seen this show before, go. GO GO GO. You are so lucky that THIS is the production you get to see to introduce yourself to this musical.
And if you are a long time lover of the show like me, still go. It felt new and sparkly, like I was seeing it for the first time… and that is a rarity in the world of musicals.
All credit to the fantastic cast, musicians and production team for pulling off one of my all time favourites with pizazz, humour, extreme talent and whizz bang expertise.
Loved loved loved.

www.guysanddollsthemusical.co.uk