'Guys and Dolls' a delightful romp

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 18, 2004 by Nancy Perkins Deseret Morning News

GUYS AND DOLLS, Tuacahn Center for the Arts, Ivins, through Sept. 4 (435- 652-3300 or 800-746-9882). Running time: two hours, 30 minutes (one intermission).

IVINS -- Tuacahn's production of "Guys and Dolls" is a delightful musical romp that takes you from the bawdy streets of Broadway to sultry Havana, all in one night.

Christian Whelan is superb as Sky Masterson, the handsome gambler who succumbs to the charms of street missionary Miss Sarah Brown (Jennifer Shelton). Not only is Whelan's voice powerful, it's mesmerizing as his character sings "Luck Be a Lady" before rolling the dice in one of Nathan Detroit's (Douglas Bilitch) floating crap games.

Shelton's lyrical voice is so beautiful it's almost a letdown when she stops singing. From her first footstep onto John Wayne Cook's ingenious set depicting New York City's breathtaking skyline, Shelton is simply a joy whenever she is onstage.

Bilitch is also a real delight as Detroit, the often bewildered, perennial fiance of Miss Adelaide (Jen Ballif), who finally, after 14 years, gets her man. Both of these actors have developed such lovable, quirky characters, we kind of hate to see them get hitched at the end of the show. Ballif, in particular, shows a real comic flair that ought to be cultivated.

Much of the action takes place on a street off Broadway and at the Hot Box Nightclub, where Miss Adelaide and her dancing girls enjoy strutting their stuff to the tunes of such silly songs as "Bushel and a Peck" and "Take Back your Mink."

But it's not just this dynamic foursome who steal the limelight; it's the entire cast of talented performers who make the evening a huge success.

A few standout actors should be noted: the lovable, fatherly Arvide (Errol Jones); the adorable yet short-of-stature Nicely- Nicely (Aaron de Jesus); and the goofy, hilarious Benny (Clayborne Elder), who made us laugh out loud as the poor chump who confesses his "sins" at Miss Sarah's prayer meeting.

Richard Clifford's costume designs are pure eye candy, especially Nicely-Nicely's delicious lime-green coattails that brush the backside of his matching baggy trousers, the wonderfully flirty Cuban skirts worn by the women of Havana, and the bright pink suit that graces Big Julie's portly frame.

"Guys and Dolls" is frothy fun that should be attracting sold-out houses. Don't miss it!

E-mail: nperkins@infowest.com