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Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Trinity Life

Media Credit: Sara Champlin DOLLS DALLY ON STAGE: From left, First Year Danielle Girard, Junior Bethany Walkowicz, Sophomore Alysia Livingston, First Year Christina Castro, Junior Meaghan Golden and Sophomore Elizabeth Stevenson perform in the Department of Speech and Drama's Broadway musical.

Can a doll change a man? Sure, but she might as well wait until after marriage. This is just one lesson learned from this jazzy show, but one thing is certain: a doll is a necessity. "Guys and Dolls" opens tonight in Stieren Auditorium, and the dynamics between men and women wanting to be independent yet in love make for a rip-roaring ride.
The Speech and Drama and Music Departments have successfully joined in the stupendous effort of producing one of the oldest established and long-loved Broadway musicals. The show runs a little over two hours with a 15-minute intermission and was directed by Roberto Prestigiacomo. (Tickets are $4 for students, $5 for groups of ten or more, $6 for faculty, alumni and senior citizens; $8 for the general public.)
While the happy-go-lucky and colorful show has long been popular, there certainly is a lot of talking, which makes the transitions into the songs difficult. Escaping onto the streets and sewers of 1940s New York City is the goal, and with the first sounds of the pit orchestra the journey begins.
The main characters are Sarah Brown, an urban missionary played by Senior Caroline Balogh; sinner, gambler and former Senator Sky Masterson (Junior Randy Scholz); and Nathan Detroit (Junior Alejandro Rodriguez) and Miss Adelaide (Sophomore Alysia Livingston), who have been engaged for 14 years, still eager yet apprehensive about tying the knot.
Catchy tunes by Frank Loesser ("How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying;" "Where's Charley?") and the hilarious, predictable script make this show a keeper. The many characters, gamblers, missionaries, dancers, in their conflicts are basically good, human and lovable. The addiction to gambling (a terrible sin) for the fun-loving men makes up for the lack of antagonists.
But for all its delights, "Guys and Dolls" is not the best show put on by this department of late. The happy characters of this show leaves one wanting at times a more dramatic or dark musical, something with more weight.

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