Steinhardt’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ Revamps Classic

NYU Steinhardt’s production of “Guys and Dolls” is a stellar performance of a classic musical.

The+cast+and+crew+of+Guys+and+Dolls+with+President+Andrew+Hamilton.

via facebook.com

The cast and crew of “Guys and Dolls” with President Andrew Hamilton.

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer

Steinhardt’s production of the classic 1950 musical “Guys and Dolls” is a colorful camp-fest with great songs and stellar performances. The show revels in a bygone vision of New York as it might have been in the ‘40s — gangsters in pin-striped suits, baby carriages lined with stolen jewelry and accents so local they sound like a musical version of “Goodfellas.”

The cast does a fantastic job of revitalizing the material without sacrificing its sincerity and old Broadway charm. The dance numbers are all a delight to watch, particularly the hectic “Havana” and “Crapshooters’ Ballet” sequences. The ensemble performers really stand out here, and it’s their energy that makes these numbers as enjoyable as they are. A few songs from this musical went on to become classics in their own right, and for good reason; “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” and “Luck Be a Lady” are all still a joy to watch, and are by far the highlights of the show. In musicals like this, the story is often just a vehicle for the song and dance numbers. This production is aware of that fact and leaning into that aspect of the show brings out its strengths.

The show is performed without a trace of irony, which calls attention to some of the more dated aspects of it. The musical is remarkably focused on the subjects of romance and gender, most apparent during songs like “Marry the Man Today (And Change His Ways Tomorrow).” While antiquated, these elements are still undeniably a part of this show’s old-school charm, and it is all done with a great sense of tongue-in-cheek comedy. It’s par for the course when dealing with classic musicals like this; just bear in mind that this is the kind of show where spectacle takes precedence over serious discussion.

Standouts in the all-Steinhardt cast include Kelsey Andridge (Master of Music: Vocal Performance student and adjunct professor of voice) as Sarah Brown and sophomore Chloe Savit as Adelaide, both of whom have beautiful vibratos that are perfectly suited for the show’s arrangement of jazz standards and show tunes. Jordan Hope  (Master of Music: Vocal Performance student) is uproariously funny as Nathan Detroit, craps-game organizer and Adelaide’s long-time fiance.

 

“Guys and Dolls” is on at 8 p.m. from Sept. 20-24 in the Frederick Loewe Theatre.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Sept. 24 print edition. Email Henry Cohen at [email protected].