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Pattonville High School Guys and Dolls

By • Feb 21st, 2013 • Category: Cappies, Missouri

On Saturday, Feb. 16, Pattonville High School thoroughly entertained the audience in their production of Guys and Dolls. The show was fluid, energetic, and fun; the audience laughed throughout the whole show. The entire cast seemed to have as much fun performing as the viewers had watching.

Guys and Dolls is the story of unrepentant gamblers and unexpected love. High-roller Sky Masterson finds himself in the company of Christian mission leader Sarah Brown after making a wager that he could take her to Havana. The bet was made by Nathan Detroit, who needed money to host a craps game. Nathan’s fiancé of fourteen years, Adelaide, is greatly distressed by the long engagement and hassles Nathan for a wedding throughout the entire show. In 1950, Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows created the musical that would be loved for decades.

Pattonville did an excellent job displaying the relationships between the different characters. The set was creative and aided in the flow of the play. The costumes were period accurate and colorful, giving the production life. The actors were filled with energy as they sang and danced across the stage. The lighting was dynamic and added to the moods of each scene. Overall, the school gave an exceptional performance.

Kalen Riley, in the role of Sky Masterson, showed the suave sarcasm of his character very well. He had great chemistry with Sarah Brown, played by Sarah Vik. Vik had a lovely operatic voice and could hit every note. While the two leads did an excellent job, the secondary leads stole the show. Nathan Detroit (Aaron Landgraf) was energetic and added life and movement to the show. He interacted well with the others on stage and performed well in his song “Sue Me.” His paramour Adelaide (Anna Pirrie) seemed to channel Vivian Blaine, who played the same role in the original stage production and on film. Her accent was spot-on and her dancing was great.

Although the main actors did an excellent job in their performances, they were not the only ones. Nathan’s sidekicks, Benny, Nicely-Nicely, and Rusty Charlie, were played by Jacob Painter, Kyle Baldwin, and Devin Harris respectively. They worked together through the whole production but also stood out on their own. Baldwin did a great job in his song “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” All three were able to sing their lines in the difficult “Fugue for Tinhorns.” The Hot Box Girls all danced well and in time; everyone seemed to know the steps.

The technical side of the play was outstanding. The lights, designed by Elizabeth Watson, were vivid and nearly every spotlight was even and on its mark. Although sound had some technical difficulties, the audience members in the balcony could hear nearly every word. Two set pieces that stood out were the Hot Box Stage and the New York City backdrop; both were filled with color and it was evident that a lot of work went into their construction. The costumes (led by Ana Cruz) only added to the effect of the production. Overall, the play would not have been the same without the work of the technical department.

Pattonville High School put on an enjoyable production that was fun for all who watched. The audience learned that love can come from unexpected places. The costumes, set, and music transported the audience to the early twentieth century.

by Anna Weeden of Holt High School

This article can be linked to as: http://showbizradio.com/go/9247.