Guys
and Dolls
— the story
The advertising strapline for Guys and Dolls is “A Musical Fable of Broadway”. This tells us straight away that what we are about to see is a work of fiction and that we are entering a fantasy land. The play is based on stories written by Damon Runyan, a well known American sports reporter and author. Set mainly in New York around Broadway, he created a range of colourful characters with equally colourful names for whom he invented a uniquely amusing style of speech.
The show opens with “Runyonland”, an idealised depiction of life on Broadway in which we see sightseers, bobby soxers, street walkers, vendors, a policeman, pickpockets, etc., going about their business; all set to music (but not sung), reminiscent of the opening sequence of Carousel.
Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie are at a newspaper kiosk reading the racing pages. As we hear a trumpet sounding the “Call to the Post” Runyonland segues into Fugue for Tinhorns, a trio sung in counterpoint by Nicely, Benny and Rusty, the first line of which is “I got the horse right here” which establishes them as gamblers.
As this ends, we hear a slightly discordant band approaching, accompanying the singing of the hymn Follow the Fold. Enter Sergeant Sarah Brown and members of the Save-A-Soul Mission as they try desperately to spread the good word to the totally disinterested passers-by.
Harry the Horse and Lt. Brannigan of the NYPD discuss with Nicely and Benny Nathan Detroit’s difficulties in finding a place to hold his illegal crap game (a game rolling 2 dice and betting on the outcome). Nathan then explains to Nicely and Benny that the only place he can find is the Biltmore Garage but the owner is demanding $1,000 up front -- and Nathan is broke. Groups of gamblers enter, asking where’s the game? Confident that Nathan will come through, they sing an anthem to The Oldest Established (permanent floating crap game in New York).
On hearing that Sky Masterson, the well known high-stakes gambler, is in town, Nathan decides to try to sucker him into a $1,000 bet. Sky is not so easily fooled but he brags that he can have any woman he wants and accepts Nathan’s bet that he can take out any woman Nathan names. The Mission Band re-enter and Nathan names Sarah Brown.
Sky arrives at the Mission and tries to ingratiate himself with the very prim and proper Sarah but she is having nothing of it. Sky confesses to being a sinner, something the Mission is having little success in attracting. He gives Sarah a written guarantee that he will provide one dozen sinners if she will have dinner with him, an offer that Sarah rejects.
Sky taunts Sarah about her attitude to men but Sarah sings I’ll Know (when my love comes along) which is echoed by Sky.
Moving to The Hot Box Nightclub, we meet Miss Adelaide, who has been engaged to Nathan for 14 years! She is the star attraction at the nightclub and is performing a number with the Hot Box Dancers, A Bushel and a Peck. After a scene with Nathan, she sings the famous Adelaide’s Lament.
Back to Broadway where Benny and Nicely watch Sarah and The Mission Band march by, followed by Sky. This leads them to sing the title song, Guys and Dolls.
On their return to the Mission, Sarah is met by General Matilda Cartwright, the head of the Mission, who announces that this branch is to be closed. Sky overhears this and reminds Sarah of his offer which she now reluctantly accepts.
Outside, the gamblers are waiting for news of the game. Lt. Brannigan enters and is very suspicious. Desperate to throw him off the scent, Benny tells Brannigan that they are here for a party as Nathan is finally going to marry Adelaide. The Mission Band passes by and Nathan is horrified to see that Sarah is not with them!
Sky has flown Sarah to Havana for dinner. After dragging him around sightseeing, they arrive at a cafe where Sarah asks for a milk shake but Sky orders Dulche de Leche (coconut milk and bacardi!). Sarah innocently orders more and is soon drunk. When a sexy cafe dancer takes an interest in Sky, Sarah starts a fight and chaos ensues.
The alcohol has loosened her inhibitions and Sarah declares that she is in love. If I Were A Bell.
They return to New York in the early hours of the morning where Sky tells Sarah this is My Time of Day and both declare that I’ve Never Been in Love Before. But the moment is shattered by the sound of police sirens and the gamblers come pouring out of the Mission. Sarah is appalled and assumes that Sky is responsible and has tricked her, as the curtain falls on Act I.
ACT II
Act II opens in the nightclub where Adelaide and the dancers are performing a burlesque style strip number Take Back Your Mink.
Sky enters, followed by Nicely who tells him that the crap game is still going on. Adelaide is distraught as Nathan had told her that they were going to elope that night.
Sarah is also still upset and Arvide, her grandfather who is part of the Mission Band, tries to console her in More I Cannot Wish You”.
Meanwhile, the all night crap game is still going on in a sewer under Broadway -- Crapshooters Dance. One of the gamblers, Big Jule, has been losing badly and forces Nathan to play with him using blank dice until Nathan has lost all of his money.
Sky arrives and when the gamblers refuse to go with him to the mission, he bets them $1,000 each against their souls. Luck Be A Lady Tonight.
On the way to the Mission, Nathan bumps into a furious Adelaide who angrily takes him to task whilst he insists that he loves her. Sue Me.
Inside the Mission, General Cartwright and the Mission group are waiting to see if anyone will attend their midnight prayer meeting. They are about to give up when the gamblers troop in. Sky departs, leaving Nathan in charge.
The prayer meeting starts with the General inviting the gamblers to give testimony to their sins. Benny, Big Jule and Harry the Horse go first. Lt. Brannigan bursts in ready to arrest everyone but he is stopped short whilst Nicely leads everyone in the big production number Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat.
Nathan testifies about a bet he made, saying that he lost the bet and Sarah then realises that she has misjudged Sky.
Sometime later, Adelaide and Sarah meet and commiserate with each other, debating whether men can be changed. Marry the Man Today.
Finally we are back on a busy Broadway, Brannigan enters and buys a newspaper at the kiosk - he is served by Nathan! The Mission Band enters with Sky playing the big bass drum! Arvide agrees to conduct the wedding in the mission and the full company close the show with a reprise of Guys and Dolls.
Ian Stretch