The 2nd Star production of "Guys and Doll," on stage at Bowie Playhouse, is a fast-paced, exhilarating winner.
With a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, "Guys and Dolls" first appeared on Broadway in 1950, captivating audiences for 1,200 performances and taking the Tony Award for Best Musical.
The show, which is based on stories by Damon Runyon, has enjoyed countless revivals — including a 1955 film version starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine, playing Miss Adelaide in the stage role created for her.
2nd Star presented one of those revivals more than a decade ago, with Nori Morton starring as Miss Adelaide. Morton returns as this production's assistant director. She's accompanied by her "Dueling Divas" cabaret partner, Debbie Barber-Eaton, who directs the production.
Barber-Eaton has assembled a dream cast. As Nathan Detroit, Brian Mellen embodies this small-time gambler, delivering a lovable loser with a penchant for finding trouble and torn between responsibilities to his gambler gang and his longtime fiancee, Miss Adelaide.
Mellen has a New York swagger and accent, deft comic style and thorough credibility. He also has great rapport with Jamie Erin Miller as Adelaide, whom he presents with unending excuses for delaying their wedding date. Mellen has command of his every song from "The Oldest Established" to a show-stopping "Sue Me," sung to the frustrated Adelaide.
Miller delivers an adorable Adelaide, at times feisty and cajoling with Nathan while comically relating stories invented for her mother about marriage — all the while resigning herself to a long wait for the altar. Miller's delivery of "Adelaide's Lament" is perfection, and her numbers "A Bushel and a Peck" and "Take Back Your Mink" are outstanding.
Nathan's low-level gambling pals — James Huchla as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Nathan Bowen as Benny Southstreet and Daniel Starnes as Rusty Charlie — ensure a fabulous show with their delivery of "Fugue for Tinhorns," "I Got the Horse Right Here" and "The Oldest Established."
Huchla and Bowen also deliver the consummate title song along with a second-act "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," fabulously delivered by Huchla.
Nathan Detroit's best hope of financing his latest gambling scheme is to bet on a sure thing with high roller Sky Masterson. Sky is masterfully played by E. Lee Nicol, who conveys high-roller magnetism and no-bet-welching ethics. He also boasts abundant masculine charm, along with a Broadway-caliber voice to do full justice to "My Time of Day," and "Luck Be a Lady."
Sky accepts Nathan's bet that Sky can't persuade straight-laced "mission doll" Sarah Brown to go away overnight with him. This brings Sky to Sarah's Save-a-Soul Mission, where Sarah — beautifully played by Erica Miller — first encounters in Sky a Bible-quoting repentant sinner.
Show-stopping musical moments follow in their duet, "I'll Know," which showcases Miller's impressive soprano voice — though it might have been improved if notched down a bit from aria to Broadway-style delivery. In later songs, Miller is spot-on, and she also exhibits surprising athleticism, comedic flair and skilled dancing.
Outstanding support players include Steve Streetman as Big Jule, Gene Valendo as Lt. Brannigan, David Robinson as Abernathy and Carole Long as General Matilda Cartwright. A special nod should go to dancer Andrew Gordon, who could brighten any Broadway stage.
From the first notes of the orchestra, under the direction of Sandy Griese, the audience is drawn into a bustling New York City scene. Gordon's choreography brings class to the crapshooters' sewer locale and salsa zest to a Havana cantina.
Praise also is due to Jane Wingard for her set design artistry, as well as to Linda Swan for her inspired costume design and to Garrett Hyde for brilliant lighting and sound design.
This production of "Guys and Dolls" continues through June 25 at Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Drive, Bowie. Tickets can be ordered by calling the box office at 410-757-5700* or online at 2ndstarproductions.com.
*A previous version of this article included the incorrect box office number. The Sun regrets the error.