Guys and Dolls
Lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows based on the stories and characters of Damon Runyon
Directed by Judith Jackson
Musical direction by Patrick Williams
Choreography by Anna Cohen and Naomi Sinclair
Our run of 'Guys and Dolls', proved very popular with all tickets selling out in eleven days. It followed the intertwinning stories of gamblers Nathan Detroit and his fiance Miss Adelaide, and Sky Masterson and Salvation Army worker Sarah Brown, all set against the backdrop of 1950s New Yorker where Nathan is trying to arrange an illegal 'crap' game whilst evading the police. It featured the stand out songs 'Luck Be A Lady', 'Sit Down Your Rockin' The Boat' and 'If I Were A Bell'. With a set design, using neon signs generously supplied by Walthamstows 'God's Own Junkyard' signage company and our largest cast of recent years, this was a big and ambitious show that certainly entertained our full houses.
Mornington Hall, 22nd - 25th October 2025
Photo gallery
NODA review highlights
My main memory of this show will be the high production values seen in the set, lights, costumes, sound, props and overall impact of this theatrical treat. What the team managed to present at one end of Mornington Hall rivalled many purpose-built theatres, it really was extraordinary. The sets were terrific with the opening illustration of the NY skyline, neon lights and fire hydrant. The way the lights came and went gave a verve and busyness to the backdrop. We could pick out the Hot Box sign, the Mission cross, and the horse racing suggestion of the Saratoga headline on the newsstand. Later we were transported into the Mission and the Hot Box club, into the sewer and whisked off to Havana. The wardrobe collection was outstanding with lots of changes and accuracy of time and style. The costumes team must have worked incredibly hard to research, source and collect the many items. The suits, the uniforms, the Hot Box girls and the individual characters all shone out and had a real authenticity to the world of Damon Runyon. The Hot Box Debutants deserve a special mention with their minks, ostrich feathers, and matching pink Basques. The final wedding scene with Nathan in tails, Adelaide the bride in white and Sky proud to wear the Salvation Army uniform was a great show piece ending that brought us back to Broadway.
All thirty-four cast members played their part in bringing the magical New York world of Damon Runyan to life. They were bustled in for the opening scene which laid out Runyonland superbly and with the Mission band the Fable of Broadway, with its great characters and colour, was evident en masse. The Hot Box performers danced and looked terrific and worked together well especially in Take Back Your Mink.
More good steps within the abilities of the dancers came with Sky and Sarah’s lunch in Havana. The staging and costumes provided a stark contrast to the streets of New York. The individual characters and cameos made for a scene full of incident and interest and echoed the opening Broadway scene.
The Crapshoot was well staged and worked within the confines of the Gamblers’ movements as each pair came forward to throw the dice. The following scene was excellent as Big Jule’s control of the game made Nathan a dupe and ensured nobody left early.. The Gamblers came out of the sewer via the NYC tent which was a good entrance and exit for the underworld.
This was a great opportunity for the large CADOS membership to join together to perform in the Guys and Dolls classic musical. It continues to be a great show and a crowd pleaser as was evident from the sold-out houses. The production values were some of the best I’ve seen from CADOS and Mornington Hall rivalled many larger theatrical venues. Congratulations on another lavish production.
​Paul Daynes, NODA Regional Representative
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