I have a soft spot for this particular musical; it was the first professional play that I saw so it was the beginning of my love affair with musical theatre. This production pulls the audience in with the opening scene on Broadway, but it is the clever “Fugue for Tinhorns” that told us that we were in for a fun evening. Jerrod Miller (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Jonathan Hetler (Benny Southstreet), and Seth Cornwell (Rusty Charlie) had great individual voices, but the three of them together were fantastic. These guys came close to stealing the show from the leads. Later Jerrod Miller gets a chance to bring down the house with “ Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.
Let us speak of the leads for a moment. Kristen Paschen (Sarah Brown), Katie Kensinger (Miss Adelaide), Matthew Lesniewski, (Sky Masterson) and Ken Wozetek (Nathan Detroit) were all perfectly cast. Again, the individual voices were terrific and each actor was believable. Having seen Katie and Ken in other roles gave me an even better appreciation of their skills. Katie Kensinger’s “Adelaide’s Lament”, aka “A Person Could Develop a Cold” was a show stopper. The audience loved it.
This show calls for an outstanding male ensemble and this group of guys were having the time of their lives. The crap game in the sewer scene can be tricky but it was very well done. Director Martha Traverse and Choreographer Jessica Blanarik are to be congratulated for an excellent job. They kept the show, and the guys, moving.
A thank you also goes to orchestra leader Ronica Skarphol Brownson. The overture was enjoyable on its own, but it was the fact that I could hear lyrics that I appreciated. This is a major deal with me.
GUYS AND DOLLS! will run at Boal Barn until July 7th. It will be followed by Steel Magnolias opening on July 17. For reservations, the phone number is 814-234-7228. Supporting the local arts is a very good thing.
For more pictures, visit Meadowlane Photography on Facebook.
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