Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre was one of the most exciting and entertaining shows I’ve seen. The Golden Age musical is set in the mid 20th century and is described by Musical Theatre International as an “oddball romantic comedy.” It follows the lives and romances of gambling bachelor Sky Masterson, by-the-book missionary Sarah Brown, crap-game manager Nathan Detroit, and performer Miss Adelaide as they pursue their professional endeavors, grow as people, and fall in love. On the afternoon of Tuesday the 6th I bought a $25 standing interactive rush ticket, booking a spontaneous and delightful evening for myself. Firstly, my entire experience while attending this production was wonderful. The Bridge Theatre is beautifully decorated, however, my admiration of the lobby pales in comparison to that of the set itself. Guys and Dolls was thoughtfully and stylishly designed, capturing both the rush and the beauty of Manhattan streets in the mid 20th century. A series of signs, traffic lights, and other ornaments hung from the ceiling, with the large glowing Hotbox sign as the centerpiece. There were also a multitude of other set pieces which distinguished every unique location (there are many!) and added to the wonderfully curated aesthetic of the musical. Set designer Bunny Christie and Lighting Designer Paul Constable set a wonderful scene which I experienced first-hand in the standing immersive section. As the audience members stood on the stage itself, sections of the flooring would rise and lower as actors took to the stage. We were ushered to move in many directions, filling out the floor and often standing directly at the actors’ feet. One of the most interesting aspects of this set design is that it allowed to completely seamless transitions, as the lights would simply focus on a different area of the stage and I, having been so focused on the current scene, would turn around to witness a set change and a new group of actors that I had not perceived before. This newly designed set truly allowed me to feel immersed in the story, capturing my attention in a unique and exciting way.

The performers in Guys and Dolls were also phenomenal. The singing, dancing, and acting were all incredibly thoughtful and precise, displaying how much effort and care the performers put into their work in this production. This is not only displayed in the performances themselves, but also in the small moments which added great detail to the production. One example of this occurred during the fun and romantic number “If I Were a Bell,” as Sarah described how being with Sky makes her feel. When Sarah proclaimed, “If I were a lamp, I’d light,” the street lamps suddenly turn on. This both denotes that it is evening and serves as a physical representation of how Sarah is feeling inside. Two other standout numbers in my opinion were “Take Back Your Mink” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Marisha Wallace as Miss Adelaide was absolutely fantastic, and she and her girls delivered a playful and glorious performance which opened Act 2 with a bang. The costume changes were flashy, fashionable, and expertly done. Kudos to costume designer Bunny Christie! The number left the audience members cheering, and for very good reason! The other number which had a similar impact on the audience was “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Cedric Neal as Nicely-Nicely Johnson has a fantastic voice and delivered a charismatic and lively performance. He was then joined by the entire company, who enthusiastically earned over a minute of applause in between and after the two encores of the chorus. In addition to the actors, the orchestra was also incredible. Seated in the wall toward the ceiling and outlined in Edison bulbs, the orchestra added another layer of professionalism, talent, and exaltation to the spirited musical.  

The story itself is comedic yet heartfelt and the company truly made it it their own. There is often an argument that many Golden Age musicals, including Guys and Dolls, have outdated storylines and should not be performed anymore often because gender inequality is present in the plots. However, I believe that everyone at the Bridge Theatre proved this argument to be wrong. Guys and Dolls is ultimately a love story and one in which the principal men grow to recognize the importance of the women they love and cultivate equal relationships with them. It is also a story in which the women, specifically Adelaide and Sarah, always stay true to themselves. Guys and Dolls was one of the most exciting, exhilarating, and explosive musicals I’ve ever seen and it epitomizes the joy of musical theatre. Kudos to everyone involved, the production was stunning! I highly recommend going if anyone will be in London from now until August!