SPA Makes “Guys and Dolls” A Hit

Guys and Dolls, the Broadway musical originally performed in 1950, is admittedly quite antiquated, however, this didn’t stop the students of Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts (SPA) from giving an exceptional performance of it.

The show, which was directed by Katelin Knight and Nathan Wambolt and choreographed by Jessie Metcalf McCullough, ran from November 18-19 and 21-22 and was nearly sold out every night. Everyone on the cast was very enthusiastic about the musical

“The musical is one of my favorite productions that we put on throughout the year,” Trey McEuen, who played Rusty Charlie, said. “Not only because it is so fun, but because we combine almost every department and bring together people who usually wouldn’t be working together; creating friendships and making a family out of everyone involved.”

The performances from the main actors (Casey Josephson as Nathan, Abby Davis as Adelaide, Morgan Hekking as Sarah, and Ethan Kelso as Sky) all delivered a lovely performance. Josephson was completely believable as the lovably pathetic Nathan, and his love interest, Davis, was delightfully humorous. Kelso was very strong vocally, and Hekking fully embodied her character from the uptight missionary Sarah is in the beginning of the musical to the drunken girl she is by the end of the first act to the determined young bride she is by the end.

The ensemble and cameos were phenomenal as well. Alexis Carillo delivered a heart wrenching performance as Aunt Arvide, and Savannah Spring exhibited her fantastic acting skills as the entrancingly sarcastic and brilliantly witty Big Jule.

“Being in a show gives you so much confidence, and I couldn’t have asked for a better environment,” Spring said.

As incredible as SPA’s rendition of Guys and Dolls was, however, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the show is pretty backwards in today’s society. Women will become hysterical if they grow too old without being legally wed? Men are always going to be scoundrels so girls might as well just settle? The themes of the play are pretty outdated.

Guys and Dolls also isn’t particularly well-written. If you take watch each scene alone, they aren’t bad, but the overall story arch is weak and anticlimactic.

It is indisputably important, however, to continue to perform this play considering that is allows us a bit of insight into the culture of the 50s. There’s also no harm in keeping alive a musical that provides the opportunity for performers to exhibit their extraordinary talents.