‘Guys & Dolls’ a good bet for entertainment
The musical comedy about New York gangsters and gamblers and the women trying to reform them will be presented in four performances this weekend by East Brainerd Community Theater.
“Guys & Dolls” opens tonight at Christ United Methodist Church, with one performance each day through Sunday.
The musical tells the story of New Yorker Nathan Detroit, who runs floating craps games and is trying to finance his next big game. In an effort to raise the money to pay for a venue, he makes a bet with his pal and gambler Sky Masterson that Sky can’t get the “doll” of Nathan’s choosing to go with him on a date to Cuba. Then Nathan chooses a woman he thinks is a safe bet: Sarah Brown, an uptight missionary from the Save-a-Soul Mission.
Meanwhile, Nathan has his own female problem — Adelaide, his fiance of 14 years. The showgirl believes her chronic cold is a psychosomatic reaction to Nathan’s failure to commit to marriage.
Playing the four principal roles are Greg Rambin Sr. as Nathan Detroit, Alex Ford as Sky Masterson, wife Rebecca Ford as Sarah Brown and Katie Olsen as Adelaide.
The music and lyrics for “Guys & Dolls” were written by Frank Loesser, and the score contains some of the most recognizable Broadway tunes — from the opening “Fugue for Tinhorns” to “Adelaide’s Lament” to “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
Director Stephanie Pearson says the cast includes 28 local actors. Musical direction is by Gary Bynum and choreography by Rebecca Benedict.
As with every EBCT performance, a local nonprofit is chosen as a beneficiary of proceeds. This year it is Chattanooga Sports Ministry.
Tickets are $15 and are available online at www.eventbrite. com. They will be sold at the door if any remain.