Last night Joe and I were invited down to The New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham to watch the UK Tour of Guys and Dolls – a musical I’ve been looking forward to seeing for a long time. Knowing nothing about the productions apart from it’s gambling references and Golden Era setting I was excited to let this classic musical take me on a journey in the wonderfully petite New Alexandra Theatre on a cold November evening. 
As soon as the production started I got goosebumps – I can spot a great musical in the first 5 minutes judged by how many hairs stand on end and if my eyes well up with excitement – this got me straight away! With it’s barber shop quartet harmonies and colourful costumes I knew we were onto a winner! The set was lit up with Hollywood lights and retro logos and the actors were over the top and cartoon-like to match the traditional musical-esque songs and incredible dance routines – I loved it!
The story sees an underground gambler Nathan Detroit (played by David Haig) trying to arrange his annual Craps Game but struggling to find a setting away from police eyes all whilst attempting to hide from his 14 year fiancee Miss Adelaide (Sophie Thompson). Nathan makes a bet with Sky Masterson (played by Jamie Parker) for $1000 – conveniently exactly the amount needed to rent a secret hideout for his Craps Game – that he can’t take a young missionary to Havana and corrupt her on a date. Heartfelt hilarity ensues as characters fall unwittingly in love, try to avoid the police and try not to lose their ever-faithful but frustrated fiancees!
The songs were big band and brilliant with old favourites such as ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat’ and ‘Luck Be A Lady Tonight’ and the voices from every single cast member blew me away – they really were some of the best I’ve seen on stage and they sent chills running down my spine with every note. The dancing was spectacular with slick choreographed routines and more backflips than Barnum’s Circus! Sophie Thompson stole the show as Miss Adelaide for me, impossibly funny in every way – her voice, her physicality and her delivery were spot on – I don’t often laugh out loud but she had me grinning from ear to ear throughout and chuckling away. There wasn’t one character on that stage who didn’t stand out as brilliant and we left the theatre with a warm fuzzy feeling only a fantastic musical can give.
Guys and Dolls UK Tour is on at The New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 5th December and you can grab tickets from the box office here.
Have you seen Guys and Dolls? Who was your favourite character?
Leave a comment down below or tweet me @xameliax and let me know your favouite song! #GuysandDolls
xax