Evening star., 1954-04-19

NOI YET, however. 1Qere is at
ington for the production which 81
at the National and returned for:
another date last night at the
Shubert.
It is essentially the same COM
pany, the New York one in it's
principals, that is back again.
There never were nicer people
in a show than Iva Withers,
Susan Hight, Julie Oshins, Nor
wood Smith, Pat Rooney. and the
others. Nor more gifted ones in
their work, or performers who
could relish it so we'll so long
that they refuse to let 1t down
when both it, and they, might
well be tired.
There is a bit of shine here and
there on a costume of Guys and
Dolls" at this late date, but there
is still a high polish on the
funny, touching, singing people
lifted from the writings of the
late, great Damon Runyon.
It's fine to have Guys and
Dolls" back, one evidence of
which was the fact that every
one was in his seat in time for
Easter Sunday nights 1880 pm.
curtain. And each of them
obviously ever so pleased to be
there.
The happy thing about Guys
and Dolls" now is the happy
thing about it in the beginning
OF its days, that Frank Loesser
(music) and 10 Swerling and
Abe Burrows (book) were in
Spired to do it. There is nothing
hackeneyed about these musical
comedy characters. They are
pure Runyon, midtown New
York's dazzingly dressed peas
ants to whom every day is a
festival of floating crap games,
horse rooms, f1fth-rate night
clubs and duelS of wits with the
police.
But the amazing thing about
them is that while they may not
be respected, they are respectable
and loveable. They have their
code which is a lot more moral
than it looks. Their markers"
are their bonds. The guys know
how to treat a "doll,' which of
course varies with the doll in
question. They may not flock
instantly to the Salvation Army
mission which sets up next door,
but they show it neighborly po-
liteness. And when they embar-
rass the mission by using it's
premises for their displaced crap
game. they make one of the most
hilariously dramatic amends in
all musical comedy.
Because these are people of
substance, the book of "Guys and
Dolls stands up after several
visits with the best of the last
decades musical productions.
1t remains vitally important
what happens to Miss Adelaide's
romance with hashy Nathan
Detroit, Sgt. Sarah Browns
touching affair with Sky Master
son, and Nicely Nicely JohnSon's
running romance with Lady Luck.
Familiarity does not dull ones in
terest in the fates of these, or
Big julie, Benny Southstreet,
Harry the Horse, or any of the
others.
While it is in the nature of
"Guys and Dolls" to be the most
comic musical comedy to be
found anywhere, it's musical
score by Mr.. Loesser is an equally |
durable asset. He wrote an
amusing thing in "a Bushel and |
a Peck" and a more amusing |
one in poor "Adelaide's Lament"
at what happens to a girl after
an engagement of IA years. He
was in funny fettle, too, when
he wrote -Nicely's sit
Down. You're Rockin' the Boat"
and Sarah's effervescent IF
Were a Bell"
: Nevertheless, there is a lot of
variety in the score of "Guys
and Dolls" like the ballads I'll
Know" my Time of Day."
tive Never Been in Love Be-
fore" and the hymn Follow the
Fold"
X X y X
The vocal demands of the
shows music are exacting but
easily met by Miss Withers,
: whose Adelaide is a joy to hear;
Miss Hight and Mr.. Smith who
: have two Of the finest voices in
musical comedy, and Jack
Prince whose Nicely is memoir
able man.
It is still a corking cast of
principals beyond these, Mr..
Oshins as the sore best Nathan
Detroit; B. S. Pully as Big julie;