 GUYS AND DOLLS
A musical fable of Broadway in two acts based on a story and characters
by Damon Runyon. Book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling: Music &
Lyrics by Frank Loesser
46th Street Theatre, New York 24 November 1950 (1194 perfs)
London Coliseum, 28th May 1953
National Theatre, London - 9 March 1982
A film version was produced by Samuel Goldwyn in 1955 with Frank Sinatra,
Vivian Blaine, Jean Simmons and Marlon Brando.
Story:
Act I
Amidst the hurly-burly of Broadway, Sarah Brown
and her gallant band from the Save-A-Soul Mission endeavour to recruit
sinners. Nathan Detroit and the gambling fraternity are more concerned
with finding a place for their illegal floating crap game and Adelaide,
Nathan's long-time fiancée, is preoccupied with trying to get him
to the altar. Sky Masterson saunters into town and gets suckered into
a bet with Nathan that he can take any doll he likes to Havana. Nathan
names Sarah Brown, and, undaunted, Sky presents himself at the Mission
as a sinner. When this doesn't work, he guarantees her a dozen sinners
in return for having dinner with him - in Havana. Sarah's response is
he's not her type of guy ("I'll Know").
At The Hot Box night club where Adelaide stars ("Bushel
and a Peck"), Nathan promise; her he will reform, Meanwhile, his side-kicks
Benny and Nicely-Nicely complain she's taking his mind off his work ("Guys
and Dolls"). The arrival of General Cartwright, intent on closing the
Mission through lack of support, galvanises Sarah into accepting Sky's
invitation. Nathan, still hoping to win his bet and the thousand bucks
he needs to set up the game, is having trouble with the gambling fraternity
- Big Jule, Harry the Horse and Rusty Charlie, to name but a few - who
are getting increasingly restless. The appearance among them of Lt. Brannigan
spells trouble, but the day is saved when they tell him they're celebrating
Nathan's and Adelaide's elopement.
In Havana, Sarah becomes decidedly more friendly after
drinking several of the local 'milkshakes' and causes a riot at El Cafe
Cubano when she objects to Sky dancing with another girl ("If I Were A
Bell"). He is shamed into telling her about the bet and takes her back
to New 'fork where they arrive just before dawn -sober, and in love ("I've
Never Been In Love Before"). Their idyllic moment is soon shattered; as
Arvide -Sarah's grandfather and the Mission Band return wearily from all-night
canvassing, the sound of a police siren sends the gamblers scuttling out
of the Mission, where Nathan had finally found a place for the game.
Act II
Adelaide entertains The Hot Box customers ("Take Back
Your Mink"), still blissfully believing she is about to become Mrs Nathan
Detroit. Arvide consoles Sarah as the deadline for closing the Mission
approaches and tries to put in a good word for Sky, who is still determined
to honour his pledge. He follows the gamblers - and the game - into the
sewer and bets each of them a thousand dollars against their souls on
the roll of the dice ("Luck Be a Lady"). When he wins, they are obliged
to attend the meeting at the Mission where - after some initial reluctance
- they join Nicely-Nicely in giving testimony ("Sit Down, You're Rocking
the Boat"). Though Lt. Brannigan, hot on their heels, remains unconvinced,
General Cartwright is impressed.
When Sarah learns that Sky told Nathan he had lost the
bet and did not take her to Havana, she realises he can't be all bad.
She and Adelaide commiserate with each other on the problems of getting
their guys to change their ways and decide the answer is to marry them
first, which they do, and live happily ever after.
|
|