Theater review: 'Guys and Dolls in Concert' at the Hollywood Bowl

 

“Guys and Dolls,” a Broadway musical set in Times Square, filled with Hell’s Kitchen riff-raff and their would-be reformers and subtitled “A Musical Fable of Broadway, seemed right at home at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend. But how could it not when it had Brian Stokes Mitchell, the American musical’s most charismatic leading man, assaying the role of gambling giant Sky Masterson, as well as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by musical director Kevin Stites, bringing out every cheeky nuance of Loesser’s irreplaceable score?

This concert staging, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and choreographed by Donna McKechnie, may have had no choice but to skim the dramatic surface. But a comic-book approach isn’t antithetical to Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows’ enduring book, based on a super-vivid story and characters of Damon Runyon.

In Runyon’s world, the men want to play dice while the women want to save them or marry them — or better yet, save them by marrying them. And this classic show from 1950 amounts to a big honky-tonk caper, with one side trying to outfox and outface the other.

But it’s not simply the bad guys versus the good guys. Naturally, these hard-boiled crapshooters are trying to elude the far less colorful cops. But they’re also trying to steer clear of the religious zealots, who want to redeem them, and the pretty dames, who won’t be content with just a date between game nights.

Jessica Biel, glowing with an untrammeled radiance, played Sarah Brown, a Sergeant in the Save-A-Soul Mission. This proselytizing prude becomes the object of a romantic wager between Nathan Detroit (a captivatingly conniving Scott Bakula), desperate to raise the money for a new site for his floating crap game, and Sky, who never accepts a bet he knows he can’t win. 

And with good reason: One minute Sarah is preaching sobriety, the next she’s in Havana lapping up Bacardi and singing to him, “If I were a bell /I’d go ding, dong, ding dong ding.” The sexy chemistry between Mitchell and Biel was enhanced by his musical theater confidence and her fresh sense of stage wonder.

As Miss Adelaide, the nightclub chanteuse who has been waiting 14 long years for Nathan to marry her, Ellen Greene was like a cross between Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. The role is too central to be enjoyed on the cartoon level alone (ideal casting: Judy Holliday), but Greene tickled the crowds with her handling of "Adelaide’s Lament,” in which Loesser’s lyrical genius somehow finds ways of juggling “streptococci” and “bromo fizz.”

Beau Bridges portrayed Arvide Abernathy, Sarah’s wise grandfather and Mission bass drum player, who encourages her to find her true love in “More I Cannot Wish You.” But this concert version belonged to the male hucksters and hustlers in snazzy pinstripes.

Along with Bakula (who found the haunting helplessness of “Sue Me”), there was fine work from Ken Page as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Jason Graae as Benny Southstreet. The two robustly teamed up for the title song, “Guys and Dolls,” and Page delivered a blusteringly rousing “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” which never fails to bring an audience to the brink of spiritual ecstasy.
 
But for a lasting snapshot in how to illuminate both the inside and outside of a number, there was Mitchell slipping into infatuation in “I’ll Know,” his lovely duet with Biel. And when he blew on his dice-rolling hands in “Luck Be A Lady,” the ardency of his chance-conquering stare snared the zeitgeist of this Broadway gem. 

-- Charles McNulty

Photos: Top: Jessica Biel and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Bottom: Ellen Greene and Scott Bakula. Credit:
Matt Sayles / Associated Press 

Comments

[Ann]

I was at the Bowl last night. I didn't expect much, but the whole party I attended with loved this musical. The music and dancing were great and it was all around entertaining. Great job to all!

[most happy fella]

Review captures it, albeit in truncated fashion. Biel an excellent acting Sarah and while she had mid range vocal challenges, her top end on "If I Were A Bell" was spot on. Greene's Ms. A only one comparable to Faith Prince in the '90s, maybe not as developed, but for a three night run and minimal rehearsal time, very laudable. Male roles were nicely played throughout and Bakula inhabited Nathan Detroit in a satisfying surprising way. But at the end of the night it was all about Stokes Mitchell and in years to come there will be bragging rights for those who got to see Broadway's preminent leading man of his era dazzle his way through this hallmark role! Lucky L.A. to get this!!

[Elizabeth]

I attended the Sunday night performance and loved it. Everyone in the audience cheered their favorites - the play, the musical score, set design and lighting, the cast of characters-Sky and Nathan, Sister Sarah Brown, Miss Adelaide, Nicely Nicely, Big Jule and then of course the performers themselves. I was drawn to the Hollywood Bowl for Scott Bakula. I heard musical theatre was one of his passions - outstanding. Beau Bridges makes the most of any role. I receltly heard Jessica Biel sing in Easy Virtue, and knew then 'd be in for a treat. Ellen Green is so versatile...and all the rest stellar performances - perfect for a night under the stars and moonlight at the Hollywood Bowl

[Cheryl]

I was there last night as well. I was very impressed with Scott Bakula who was a complete surprise to me. I was also so surprised by the quality of Jessica Biel's voice. Beautiful voice. Brian Stokes Mitchell was truly wonderful which was no surprise to me. Ken Page brought down the house with Sit Down Your Rockin the Boat. Phenomenal! As far as Ellen Green's performance went, I have seen this show in various forms many times but have never seen a more perfect Adelaide as Ellen Green. She kept the comic flavor of the original Adelaide while adding a poignancy and fragility all her own. Bravo again Miss Green! Needless to say, I enjoyed every moment of this "In Concert" version of Guys and Dolls, including the brief moments of dance and choreography by Donna McKechnie.

[HelenWheels]

Yes, an absolutely wonderful production. To call it a Concert Performance in no way did it justice.

The principals were uniformly fine . Scott Bakula and Brian Stokes Mitchell, terrific; Jessica Biel, surprising with her charming voice; Ellen Green, an outstanding Miss Adelaide ... and the ensemble supported superbly.

Orchestra, sound and lighting were excellent.

I think the cast had as much fun as we did, judging by their reaction to the ovation at the end of the show.

An outstanding evening!

[Todd]

Went Sunday night, and had a ball. Brian Stokes Mitchell is great, as one might expect. Biehl was a big surprise. Greene was a delight, and Bakula charming.
The Bowl may not be the best venue for a full length musical given its vast size, but what an enjoyable evening!

[Jennifer mccormick]

I traveled from Kentucky to see this last Saturday night and it was amazing.I went to see and hear Scott Bakula and found that everyone in it ,and the orchestra, were almost unbelievably great. Jessica Biel singing " If I Were a Bell" and Scott Bakula singing * So Sue Me" were two of the best moments of my life.
I agree that the obvious joy of the cast were part of the enchantment of the whole production. The ushers and the parking staff were all thrilled that Justin Timberlake was there all three nights to watch Jessica Biel, and Scott Bakula was holding his wife Chelsea Field's hand when they all bowed. Amir Talai was adorable. The folks from Broadway were all obviously old pros. The whole combination was just a rare, perfect,enchanted evening.