Guys & Dolls, Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival Review
Written by Kay for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
This year, Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival proudly brings the West End to Wales, as it offers its final adult performance of the season in the form of Guys and Dolls. Featuring timeless classics that most of us have heard of, alongside the lesser-known toe-tappers, this is an excellent production.
Guys and Dolls tells the story of two couples, set in 1920s New York. While existing couple Nathan Detroit (Kristian Zgorzelski) and Adelaide (Rhian Morwood) struggle with their exhaustingly long engagement, new couple Sky Masterson (Josh Lewis) and Sister Sarah (Elle Dance) battle with their differences.
The chemistry between the cast is palpable, with each of the main four possessing voices that might come as a surprise. The kind of voices that wouldn’t be out of place on the London stage. A special mention must go to Rhian Morwood, who played Adelaide, her cutesy, hilarious portrayal was nothing short of brilliance.
The highlight of the show, for me, was the beloved “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”. The character of Nicely Nicely was a stand-out, with actor Daniel Parker, embodying that part in a way that made it a joy to watch. His performance of “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” was an anticipated moment and he and the cast delivered it outstandingly.
The cast of this production are undeniably talented, and every member of the cast truly added to the spectacle. The harmonies between the main four and the remaining cast were impressive, giving goosebumps throughout.
There was a level of audience interaction that broke the fourth wall and helped to keep the production energetic and full of life. The director and writer deserve a huge amount of credit for adding an engaging and inclusive edge to the show. Members of the production walked around the audience, with some even engaging with those lucky enough to be chosen.
The comedy was outstanding, with every cast member participating in the jokes.
While this is an amateur production, the quality of the cast, crew and set-up is every inch professional. The level of detail was what helped tip this production of the edge. Every moment was squeezed of its drama, with almost every second used as a moment to continue telling the story.
This is a feelgood production, that left the audience smiling and laughing as they left the theatre. This production goes to show, that amateur productions often possess as much talent as any other. This show is a credit to Cardiff’s Open Air Theatre Festival as it’s bringing high-quality, Broadway and West End classics to Wales, for a fraction of the price, and helping to make theatre much more accessible.
Cardiff’s Open Air Theatre is open until the 27th of July, with Guys and Dolls running every evening until the theatre closes. Twice a day there is also a Junior performance of Shrek which offers the perfect starter activity for the school holidays.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
