It’s another great review for GUYS & DOLLS from Paul Gnadt of The Star Group Newspapers. If you haven’t yet reserved for GUYS & DOLLS, now is the time. There are three more weekends of the show and there are great seats available. Give us a call at 817-202-0600 or visit www.plaza-theatre.com to reserve today. Now check out the review of the show below:

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IT’S WORTH A GAMBLE TO SEE GUYS & DOLLS
by Paul Gnadt of The Star Group Newspapers

It’s a good bet you’ll enjoy “Guys and Dolls,” the current production of the Plaza Theatre Company about New York City gamblers and their love of dice games and women, or “dolls” as they’re called in the musical.

As we’ve come to expect from PTC, the JaceSon Barrus designed scenery and Tina Barrus designed costumes are as much a visual treat as the music, directed by Caryn Martin, and Nu Yawk-style dialogue are to the ears in this Jay Lewis-directed production.

The gamblers’ outfits are cartoonishly colorful. The cleverly designed street scene needs only a magazine stand and streep lamp to transport you to Times Square.

The show begins with bigger-than-life Nathan Detroit, played perfectly by Ben Phillips — previously seen in PTC’s “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and “The Scarlet Pimpernel” — looking for a place to play his popular crap game. In order to rent a place safe from snooping police Lt. Brannigan, he bets gambling guru Sky Masterson the $1,000 rental fee that the next girl he sees will go to Havana with him.

Masterson is played by the versatile JaceSon Barrus, who thinks he’s won the bet when the next girl he meets is Sarah Brown, leader of a Salvation Army-type mission band determined to save the souls of the gamblers. Brown is played by PTC newcomer Shoshana Bryant Cook, who can sing. You fit right in, Shoshana, hope to see you again, soon.

For a show that premiered on Broadway in 1950, and was made into a 1955 movie starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, I expected to hear more familiar songs, but only a few — “A Bushel and a Peck,” “If I Were a Bell,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” and “Luck Be a Lady” were songs I remembered.

No matter. The action is fast and furious, especially the numerous dance numbers choreographed by Jennifer Leyva involving the Hot Box Girls or the gamblers hoofing it in a underground sewer. Somehow, in the end, long suffering Adelaide, double cast with Camille Shaw and Tina Barrus, finally gets to marry Detroit.

You’ll enjoy G. Aaron Siler as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Michael Durington as Benny Southstreet, Mark Mckee as Rusty Charlie, Daniel Scott Robinson as Harry the Horse, Justin Diyer as Angie the Ox, Nathan Glenn as Liver Lips Louie, Lloyd Ekpo or Mitchell Moore as Society Max and Luke Hunt as Big Julie.

Also, veteran PTC watchers will enjoy the veteran Jay Cornils singing a featured song.

This is a good one. There’s no gamble to see “Guys and Dolls,” playing at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays through June 23 at the Plaza Theatre, 111 S. Main St., in Cleburne.

Tickets — $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and over and high school or college students, and $12 for youth age 12 and under — are available 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Plaza box office, by phone at 817-202-0600, or online at http://www.plaza-theatre.com.