My oldest son and I braved the foul weather to see the Holmdel Theatre Guild production of  “Guys and Dolls” last night.   The musical first debuted on Broadway in 1950, and everything about the show is timeless–great music, great dialogue, and great ensemble action.   

The HTG  injected the energy you would expect from a group of youthful actors, and all of the main parts were cast perfectly (it was fun watching Noah Rauchwerk’s “Nicely-Nicely” channeling Stubby Kaye.  Even knowing that reference simply proves how old I have become). 

It’s a show that rises and falls on the likeability of his main stars, and the comically harassed Dan Zimmerman as Nathan Detroit and the cooly romantic Volney Stefflre as Sky Masterson  had enough moxie to keep pace with the vocal firepower of their female counterparts–Nikhita Prasanna as Sarah and Rebecca Hidalgo as Adelaide–no mean feat since several Holmdel neighborhoods darkened by the storm could have used the electricity these two young ladies generated.

I particularly appreciated the “supporting elements” that elevated the entire production–the chorus, the costumes, the lighting, the scenery, and the orchestra.   Whoever painted the backdrop depicting the New York sewer system should go directly to art school.

A great deal for $12–and a great example of how our schools consistantly produce events that appeal to the entire community.