The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

MUSICAL lovers are calling for an encore presentation of “Guys and Dolls”, after Queen’s College pulled off a successful three-night run of the beloved classic last week.

The school performed its version of the popular musical at the Geoffrey Brown Auditorium on the school’s campus.

“Guys and Dolls” is set against the backdrop of prohibition, and is centered around a group of “Runyonland” characters whose intent it is to hold the “oldest established permanent floating craps game in New York”.

But with the cops breathing down their necks and a cocktail of ‘gals’ and bets adding to the stress, Nathan Detroit (Hubert Gibson) and his sidekicks, Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Joel Sweeting) and Benny Southstreet (Karrington McKenzie), must come up with a plan that will ultimately save their reputations and their souls.

With music and lyrics originally by Frank Loesser, and featuring sizzling and swinging hits such as “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” and “Luck Be a Lady”, it was a dazzling performance, said Shawn Turnquest, principal of QC.  

“ ‘Guys and Dolls’ was loved by everyone who saw it. We had patrons asking us to continue running it for several more days so that other people in the community can come by and experience theatre of a high quality that has been organised by young people,” Mrs Turnquest said.

“The lead actors and actresses were phenomenal. They clearly seem to have a career in the performing arts in the future, and their performance rivalled what one would have seen on Broadway in ‘Guy and Dolls’.”

Gregory Deane, director of QC’s “Guys and Dolls”, said he was impressed with the participation of the students. Mr Deane is Head of the Modern Languages Department at QC, a QC alumnus and a veteran of the Dundas stage.

“As a perfectionist I was absolutely impressed with the performance of the students. Some of them are like naturally born actors. Some of the boys upstaged each other and that made for some really funny moments,” he told Tribune Arts and Entertainment.

The 80-strong cast not only features Natalie Lester, David Allens and Tristen Ginter, but also a huge number of talented students and staff.

“Perhaps the most outstanding performance came from Loren Thompson, who played the part of the Adelaide. She was just stunning. She was one of those individuals who took a proactive approach, because she had made her mind up that she was going to get the part. Within ten seconds of auditioning I knew she had the role. She had the voice, the mannerisms, how she sang, so she was perfect. Her counterpart, a young man by the name of Hubert Gibson, studied really well and performed well. The more he practiced, the better he got. He had this great on-stage chemistry with Loren and they pulled off an awesome performance,” Mr Deane said.

“Natalie Lester also performed very well. At one point in the play it required her to get drunk, and I thought, ‘How is this kid going to do this’. She was very introverted at first and shy to do anything during practice, but when the show opened she was just super.”

Mr Deane said a great deal of planning and preparation went into making the show a success. He said things came together at the very last moment.