CRGS Musical 2019: Guys and Dolls
Posted On: 04/12/19
Guys and Dolls is a musical which tackles the struggles of life for gamblers, showgirls and missionaries within the hustle and bustle of New York City. With a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, and music by Frank Losser, this tale of romance, redemption and realisation set out to be a challenge for the cast involved. Despite this, after just a few short months of intense rehearsals and plenty of hard work, the production came together into something that the cast, band and crew could be proud of. After each of our four performances, we had audience members walking out singing the songs and commenting on the high level of performance shown from all students.
The plot follows the story of Sky, a spontaneous gambler. He unknowingly falls in love with an innocent mission ‘doll’, Sarah, who also finds herself falling for him. Alongside this, the audience watches a jittery Nathan struggle to provide a place for his ‘crap game’ whilst his demanding fiancée of fourteen years, Adelaide, attempts to convince him to finally get married. The intertwining plot brings everyone together in a happy ending and their stories to a close.
Every member of the cast gave a fantastic performance and they executed the comedic and fulfilling tone of the show brilliantly. However, this was not limited to the stage: during rehearsals, it was great to see so many people step up to block scenes and set numbers. There was a fantastic level of dance seen throughout the show and this was also choreographed by students.
It was a pleasure to be joined by a different Year 7 tutor group each night; the boys gave it their all and boosted the energy. Our thirty-piece show band brought to life the Roaring Twenties-influenced score with excellence and coherence, led by Dr Medlicott. The impressive set and array of props and costume were crafted by the Technology department who worked relentlessly to achieve the polished feel to the production. We couldn’t talk about the finished show without mentioning the lighting and sound team, who provided further atmosphere from the dingy streets of New York to the exotic scenes of Havana. A huge thank you also goes to the staff and members of the CRGSA who provided plenty of refreshments in the interval and gave up their time.
It was a phenomenal production to be part of and I hope one that we will all remember. Thank you to everyone involved for your commitment and contribution to making the school production such an exciting and rewarding experience.
Josh Tarrier - Year 13
