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Guys & Dolls

 
Paul T. Davies Review by Paul T. Davies 3 Published: 28 Aug 2025 Frinton Summer Theatre Show Dates: 26 Aug 2025-6 Sep 2025

As has been the custom for the last few years, Frinton Summer Theatre shrugs off the confines of McGrigor Hall and closes with a musical in the Big Top near the shoreline. It’s a wonderful summer event, and this year’s choice of Guys & Dolls is a firm audience favourite.

It is in those show-stopping tunes that the energy lies – and that energy needs to infuse the rest of the production

Directed by multi-award winner Janie Dee (including two Oliviers), expectations were high for this production. Unfortunately, the show fell a little flat on opening night, needing much more energy to fill such a large space, and hampered by consistent head mic problems – either switched off or too low. This is not to say that the company cannot achieve greatness during the run, but I can only review the performance I witnessed. And it was a nervy first night.

There are many positives: Lenny Turner belts it out as Sky Masterson, Isabella Gervais grows into Sarah Brown after a nervous start, and Fabian Soto Pacheco makes a strong Nathan Detroit, capturing his mood swings well. Josephina Ortiz Lewis, however, is still finding her Miss Adelaide. She might benefit from a more flamboyant approach, and diction was sometimes unclear – though mic issues played their part.

The ensemble works hard. Outstanding turns include Jack McCann as Nicely Nicely Johnson, who leads the show-stopping Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat with real verve. Yet even here the number was angled mainly towards one section of the auditorium. As the song is reprised, I felt there was a missed opportunity to reset the chairs and play it out to the whole audience. Sorcha Corcoran’s excellent set of larger-than-life dice and chips allows the action to flow, and Tracy Collier’s choreography makes good use of the space.

The band is excellent, and the choir add depth and lift to the big numbers. It is in those show-stopping tunes that the energy lies – and that energy needs to infuse the rest of the production. Even allowing for a late start, at over three hours it’s a show that needs to, and surely will, pick up pace.

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The Blurb:

A high energy musical fable of Broadway packed with iconic songs like Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, and A Bushel and a Peck. A live band bringing the vibrant score to life, stunning costumes, and a talented cast and crew promise a West End-quality experience. Get ready for a show-stopping performance under the iconic Greensward Big Top Tent! This is a must-see event for theatre lovers of all ages! Directed by West End star Janie Dee.