By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — Damon Runyon, best known for his short stories filled with shady characters, had a distinctive ear for language, particularly street slang. Guys and Dolls is all about his New York, not the touristy postcard parts like Times Square and Central Park, but midtown in the 1930s. It’s a seedier side that doesn’t really wake up until night time.
During the overture, “Runyonland” is a hive abuzz with con artists, sailors, working girls and pick-pockets. There are nice touches of characters from other Damon Runyon stories such as Apple Annie and a legless beggar who have a nice little racket going, a boxer, a flasher and two nuns pawning stolen jewelry.
Hats off to Lee Savage whose scenic design evokes a complex, moving labyrinth where bars, burlesques and boxing rings are lit up like a Christmas tree in a whorehouse. Costumes by Brian C Hemasath are likewise comically garish, attiring gangsters in plaid three-piece suits and burlesque girls in sassy tear-away costumes that have the men howling like wolves.
Floating crap-game master Nathan Detroit and his doll, Miss Adelaide are celebrating their anniversary. For the past fourteen years, they’ve been happily … engaged. J Bernard Calloway was larger than life and reminded me of Steve Harvey. Clad in a striped purple suit, he’s in a constant state of comic peril. Veronica J Kuehn has an impressive vocal range as Miss Adelaide. With high-pitched squeals and nasally lows, she is a hoot.
Audrey Cardwell is bright eyed and earnest as Salvation Army Sargeant Sarah Brown, desperate to save the streets full of sinners from their devilish vices. Terence Archie is as smooth as a silk handkerchief mopping a sweaty brow in a losing streak as the traveling gambler, Sky Masterson. Trying to seduce Sarah on a bet, he really has his work cut out for him. Yet he reveals a poetic soul as he sings about the quiet streets of the city just before dawn. The prickly chemistry is fun to watch as they sing/argue about the nature of love. The dancing in Havana is sexy and fun, providing just the right atmosphere for breaking the sergeant out of her cool shell.
Todd Buonopane was surprisingly light on his feet as the ever fressing Nicely Nicely Johnson with a comic timing reminiscent of Fatty Arbuckle. And Steve Greenstein makes an impression as Big Jule, the pistol packing gangster from Chicago. He doesn’t say much, but barks with such force that you pay attention when he does.
To get into the language of these characters, the cast had to do some homework, but it was fun homework to do. They listened to hours of old Abe Burrows radio plays from the 40s for that old-fashioned Jewish humor.
Give a standing ovation to Director/Choreographer Josh Rhodes for putting together such a lively production of colorful characters swinging through an untamed urban jungle.
The songs are iconic: Can Do, Luck be a Lady, I’ve never been in love before. But, for the love of God, Ladies, don’t follow their advice and “Marry the man today” thinking you can change his ways tomorrow. That never works.
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Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com