Carmarthen Journal - Guys and Dolls Review

My review of Guys and Dolls performed by C.A.O.S

I was very excited to attend the performance by C.A.O.S theatre company to watch their interpretation of the infamous Guys and Dolls. With an impressive cast, boasting a wide variety of ages and talents, with local lad Marc Skone as the artistic director and local lady Helen Wyn as the musical director I knew the show was not going to disappoint its fairly large audience on its opening night.
This vibrant revival of the classic Broadway musical ran for just a bit off three hours and was strenuous for the cast from the get go. With so many scenes to get through each with their own identity the use of the in house band made up of pupils from Queen Elizabeth High School was an excellent choice.
For those of you who do not know the story of Guys and Dolls it is based on the short stories by Damon Runyon. It is a musical with both music, dancing and lyrics all surrounding the plot following the lives of a group of gamblers and the women who are trying to change them for the better all set in the city that fails to sleep New York.
The coolest of the cities scoundrels is Sky Masterson played by Osian Rhys, Osian's ability to take on such a role and perform it so brilliantly was impressive and the ability to hold such a strong New Yorker accent throughout was commendable and this is a praise that can be given to every member of the cast as perfecting an accent is in itself a hard task! His on stage partner Sarah Brown the woman determined to change the misfits ways played by Lynsey Armstrong was too played to perfection belting out the shows infamous songs. One of the perhaps most well known songs 'Sit down your rocking the boat' was taken on by popular performer Gareth Morgan who took on the part of Nicely Nicely Johnson, as with every role Gareth excels himself showing everyone just why he belongs on the stage. I couldn't fault the cast or their performance however if I was to deliver any criticism it would be that the dancers seemed to be a bit lack lustre and at times slightly out of time with the rest of the group this however could simply be put down to opening night nerves. Claire Richards who delivered so beautifully the part of Miss Adelaide is one to watch on the theatre circuit, she managed to keep the audience laughing throughout with her comments towards her fiance of fourteen years Nathan Detroit played by the wonderful Adam Quil the couple made a great duo with their on/off relationship and amusing, well-timed repartee.
I thouroughly enjoyed this performance and as my first encounter with C.A.O.S was so impressed with such an amazing cast. The Guys and Dolls cast also included two members of Only Boys Aloud Aled Owen (Harry the Horse) and Thomas Miles (Benny Southwest) Who despite doing Wales proud in the Britain's Got Talent final still managed to come home and put on this incredible performance. Well done to all of the cast, crew and orchestra and the artistic vision of Marc Skone who for a few nights has turned the Lyric Theatre into New York City. I for one could not help but sing Luck be a Lady all the way home!