Guys and Dolls
at South County High School

Reviewed on May 7, 2016

Raquel Sequeira
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

A sharp jazzy beat rose up and then ushered in a rapid-fire pantomime as a throng of characters, each absorbed in their own scene of chaos and questionable legality, rushed in to create a tumult of urban activity on the stage. As it began, South County High School High School's production of Guys and Dolls revealed the wildness and tension of New York City and its denizens in the 1920s and 1930s.

With gaudy suits offsetting shady business deals and tacky accents delivering absurdly precise language, Guys and Dolls classically depicts the contrasts and intrigue of 20's and 30's New York. The show was first produced on Broadway in 1950, and centers around the gamblers of the city and two couples caught in the madness: the crapshooting Nathan Detroit and his diva fiancée Adelaide who begs him to quit and marry her, and the mutually smitten smooth-talking gambler Sky Masterson and the mission enthusiast Sarah Brown.

The South County ensemble created an ostentatious atmosphere and setting for the production. Ensemble players were especially powerful in the number "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," where unified, energetic choreography filled the stage with sharp movement. In the male dance scene of "Luck Be a Lady," every garishly colored suit-clad crapshooter shot and leapt with intensity, notably Ray Martin, whose jumping splits wowed the audience.

As struggling crapshoot ringleader Nathan Detroit, Ethan Schulze crafted a charming and memorable character with well-timed, humorous delivery and charismatic vocals. His bright characterization was constantly intriguing, such as his expression of wry frustration as Nathan finds himself being roped into an unfair game of dice and even marriage. Nathan's fiancée of 14 years, Miss Adelaide, played by Samantha Sharrett, brought unflagging vitality to the flamboyant character. She maintained a humorously exaggerated voice and mannerism whether singing or speaking.

Kyle McKnight entered the stage with Sinatra-like smoothness as Sky Masterson. With charismatic confidence and speech—a sharp New York accent set off with sophisticated vocabulary—he crafted a thoughtfully developing character through the course of the show. McKnight's rich vocals embellished his cool image. Alia Mahboob played Sarah Brown, the rigid mission worker eventually wooed by Sky. Mahboob effectively shifted from pious and stern to lovesick and conflicted. Joe Bright as Nicely-Nicely Johnson won the audience with his character's precise comic delivery and pleasing lead vocals in the song "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

Creative, subtle lighting helped distinguish night and day, and smoothly transitioned the focus on specific characters throughout the show. The sets, effective in their simplicity, transported the audience from the bright lights of Times Square to the dreary monochrome of the Salvation Army mission to the flashy neon pink of the Hot Box nightclub. The stage crew smoothly transitioned set pieces and ever-changing backdrops throughout the show.

With creative and thoughtful characterizations and moments of strong humor and high energy, South County's production left the audience cheering for the finally united "guys and dolls," as the bright, lingering rhythm of New York City pulsed onward.

Khyrsgiana Pineda
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Luck be a lady tonight in South County High School's thrilling rendition of Guys and Dolls, a theatrical adventure into the heart of New York City in the 1920s and 1930s, alive with Crapshooters, Missions, and Hot Box Girls.

Guys and Dolls was based on Damon Runyon's short stories, "Blood Pressure" and "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown," as well as elements of "Pick the Winner." Later adapted into a musical with lyrics and music by Frank Loesser and a book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrow, Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway in 1950, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical. The 1955 film adaptation, directed by Joseph Mankiewicz, starred Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine, and Frank Sinatra.

The story follows Nathan Detroit, a gambler, who needs one thousand dollars to pay a garage owner to host his crap game. In order to attain the money in time, Nathan makes a bet with Sky Masterson that he cannot take the virtuous mission leader named Sarah Brown on a date to Havana. Meanwhile, Nathan's fiancé of fourteen years, Adelaide, begs him to go cease his foolish gambling and finally marry her. Sky slyly persuades Sarah to join him in Havana in exchange for bringing a dozen sinners to her mission.

Kyle McKnight as Sky Masterson held the eyes and hearts of the audience with finesse and chemistry, proving that a guy will do anything for his doll. McKnight held a resilient vocal range and a charismatic stage presence whether the scene took place at a crap game in the sewers of New York City or on the steps of the Mission House. Alia Mahboob depicted Sarah Brown's character development with meticulous progression, showing her transition from a reserved mission girl to the slightly sassy and passionate girl in love. Samantha Sharrett as Miss Adelaide was beloved by the audience, contributing spunk, smiles, and tears with abundant expression, energy, and focus. Ethan Schulze fully understood and comfortably played Nathan Detroit, easily attracting laughs from the audience. Joe Bright as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Nick Ferlazzo as Benny Southstreet were the perfect duo, especially in exuberant numbers such as "Fugue for Tinhorns" and Bright's solo, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

The sweetly-simplistic set was aesthetically appealing, allowing the actors to shine as the primary focus while adding to the tone of each scene. Pink curtains, posters, and seating established the mood of the Hot Box Nightclub, in stark contrast to the poorly furnished Mission House. Although at times there were few issues with the sound system as well as diction, in general actors projected well from the stage. Lighting also created mood, shadowing the emotional state of characters and highlighting the setting.

The ensemble was energetic and engaged throughout the duration of the performance. The cast collaborated in betting for success, which they most certainly achieved. "Love is the thing that licked ‘em," and it looks like the audience was another victim of South County High School's charm and zest in an exquisite performance of Guys and Dolls.

Sydney Smith
Bullis School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Luck Be A Lady Tonight! South County High School's production of Guys and Dolls was energetic, precise, and just downright funny. The musical, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, premiered Broadway in 1950 and was later adapted into a 1955 movie starring Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, and Vivian Blaine.

Guys and Dolls tells the story of two guys and their dolls. Nathan Detroit and his fiancé of 14 years, Miss Adelaide, navigate through their bumpy relationship as Nathan tries to hide his crap game from Adelaide, who is eager to marry. Opposite this dynamic couple is Sky Masterson, a heavy gambler, who falls in love with a missionary named Sarah Brown while trying to win a bet he made with Nathan.

Ethan Schulze, who showed perfect comedic timing and an ability to bring to life a classic character, played the wisecracking Nathan Detroit. Though he did not have many songs of his own, when he did sing, Schulze's voice was impeccable. Opposite Schulze was Samantha Sharrett as Miss Adelaide. Sharrett's solid vocals and hilarious facial expressions helped her master the character and deliver a very entertaining performance. Kyle McKnight as Sky Masterson had a hypnotizing voice and truly embodied the persona of a smooth-talking gambler. His counterpart Sarah Brown (Alia Mahboob) sang like an angel, captivating the audience from her first entrance and sharing great chemistry with McKnight.

Other standouts included Joe Bright as Nicely-Nicely Johnson whose energy radiated throughout the entire cast. His remarkable vocals captured the heart of the audience in his song, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." Along with Bright, Nick Ferlazzo as Benny Southstreet proved to be a dynamic force who provided comedic relief and sang great harmony in "Fugue for Tinhorns." The male ensemble that doubled as the Crapshooters and Havana Dancers showed good camaraderie and executed complicated choreography in all musical numbers.

The tech crew's smooth scene changes and appropriate set pieces complemented the cast's talented performance. The sound and lighting crew proved to be well trained as they executed tricky lighting cues and had minimal sound glitches. The bright, elaborate costumes along with dazzling make-up choices enhanced this comedic piece and the energy of the actors. South County High School nailed this comedic classic!

Blake Johnson
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com- CH/Lorton/Oakton

It wasn't a gamble to watch South County High School's excellent production of Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls is a Tony award winning musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It premiered on Broadway in 1950 and won a Tony for Best Musical in 1951 and had a 1955 film adaptation starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.

South County has a large theatre department, and all of the cast and crew worked together to bring energy and excitement into the production.

Miss Adelaide is well known for sounding nasal and annoying, and Samantha Sharett conveyed those qualities perfectly in her performance. Sharrett had a wide emotional range and managed to stay in character while singing. Clearly committed to the role, Sharrett's dancing was fun and energetic, exactly as Adelaide is meant to be depicted, and her projection was wonderful, even with her microphone.

Guys and Dolls is an ensemble-heavy show, with four leads and few supporting roles. The Crapshooters ensemble was a joy to behold. Despite not all having lines, each ensemble member exuded a distinct personality. Joe Bright stood out as Nathan's accomplice Nicely-Nicely Johnson. In Bright's solo song, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," he sang well and energetically.

While the sets were fairly simple, they worked well for the production and did not distract from the story. The tech crew stayed on their cues and had extremely smooth scene changes, even if the curtains got stuck once. Every character who spoke had a microphone, which was impressive. While the microphones went in and out at times, the actors reacted by projecting more so the audience could hear them.

Luck was certainly a lady for anyone who had the pleasure to see South County High School's fun production of Guys and Dolls.

Danielle Burman
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to Lorton Valley Star

The Big Apple is definitely not for everyone, but it sure is home for gamblers and missionaries. Missionaries? Yes! You read that right! The Big Apple in the 1920s and 1930s hustles and bustles in South County High School's production of the extravagant, Tony award winning musical, Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls has music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser and book written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Guys and Dolls opened on Broadway in 1950 and has had several subsequent Broadway revivals. Guys and Dolls has been considered a perfect romantic musical comedy. Guys and Dolls follows the story of Nathan Detroit who has no place to shoot possibly the largest crap game New York City has ever seen. He hits up another gambler, Sky Masterson for money and they make a bet. If Sky cannot take the missionary, Sarah, to Havana, then Sky must give Nathan 1,000 dollars for the crap game. With twists and turns in multiple love stories, and authorities breathing down the gambler's necks, the stakes are extremely high in this musical comedy.

South County's Guys and Dolls was a major hit. The large ensemble enhanced the show with their over-the-top facial expressions and energy. The crapshooters were a major highlight, especially in upbeat numbers such as "Luck Be a Lady" and in "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." Their ability to act as a unit, while still bringing their own unique personalities into their characters, was extremely entertaining. Their cleanliness in choreography, distinct motives, and captivating storytelling made them stand out in the best light.

Leading the show was the smooth Sky Masterson (Kyle McKnight) who delivered his lines with wit and charm. The audience could not help but root for McKnight to succeed with his love interest, Sarah Brown (Alia Mahboob). Samantha Sharrett's portrayal of Miss Adelaide, Nathan Detroit's outrageous fiance of 14 years, was impeccable. Her go-to crying face was always on point. Sharrett kept her vocals consistent with her nasal character voice, an extremely impressive skill for a high school student to master. She shined in songs such as "Bushel and a Peck" and "Adelaide's Lament."

In the supporting cast, Nicely-Nicely Johnson, played by Joe Bright, stood out with his bright vocals in the stellar number, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." His captivating presence and clear voice fueled the energy of the entire ensemble performing with him on stage.

The elaborate backdrops and vivid costumes enhanced the active feel of the city scenes. Although microphones came in and out, the actors adjusted and quickly projected their voices even louder.

The company of South County's Guys and Dolls was top notch. Their commitment to the story, abundant energy, and witty portrayals created a joyful atmosphere that left the audience smiling ear to ear.

Grace Duah
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

The curtains open up as actors spill from all directions. The lights are flashing, the costumes are bright, the people are bustling and commotion is everywhere. It is 1930s Times Square, and the city could not be more alive. Thus began South County High School's recent production of Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls is a musical written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. It premiered on Broadway in 1950, running for 1200 performances and winning a Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical has had several Broadway and London revivals as well as a 1955 film adaptation including Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Vivian Blaine. The story follows prominent gambler Nathan Detroit as he desperately seeks a location for his craps game. In desperate need of $1000, Detroit bets fellow gambler Sky Masterson he cannot get the holy Sarah Brown of the Salvation Army mission to join him on a date. Mischief, mayhem, and a little love ensue as the two gamblers try their hardest not to run out of luck. Guys and Dolls is a difficult show vocally, but even harder musically; South County's Pit Orchestra met the challenge head on and succeeded. Despite a few minor bumps, the orchestra played on time and beautifully in a way that only helped to enhance the show rather than detract.

Ethan Schulze did a fantastic job as the quick-witted gambler Nathan Detroit. From the moment he came on stage it was clear he was at home, melting right into the role with a distinguished presence and spot on comedic timing. Kyle McKnight left his mark as the slick-backed schemer Sky Masterson. McKnight 00executed well Sky's transition from a sleazy and dishonest gambler into a genuine person, showing a wide acting range. Miss Adelaide, Detroit's girlfriend of 14 years, truly came to life through the excellent performance of Samantha Sharrett. With possibly the strongest commitment in the show, Sharrett embodied Adelaide and her quirkiness while finding novel nuisance habits to make the role her own. Sharrett succeeded in merging a beautiful singing ability with a high pitched, potentially irritating voice to stay true to Adelaide's character. Alia Mahboob also gave a commendable performance as Sarah Brown. With a voice that seemed to come from the heavens and a sweet chemistry with Masterson, Mahboob wonderfully brought Sarah to life.

Joe Bright, as Nicely-Nicely, and Nick Ferlazzo, as Benny Southstreet, were quite the dynamic duo. Throughout their numbers together the boys illuminated the stage with their well-executed accents and vocal ability. Bright's song "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," practically brought the house down. The ensemble was wildly engaged by that point in the show.

The tech overall ran fairly smoothly and the crew recovered efficiently to any glitches. Through subtle changes the lighting created mood and tone in the scenes. The student-built sets were well done and effective. The genuine attention to detail in set pieces for the Salvation Army mission scenes made you feel as though you were there. There were some sound issues at times, but overall the production quality impressed.

Luck truly seemed to be with South County High School during their lovely production of Guys and Dolls!

Juliana Gruver
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Welcome to the world of crap games and conversions, gamblers and God, law-breakers and love: welcome to Guys and Dolls at South County High School!

Guys and Dolls follows the story of two unlikely pairings: the 14-year engagement of Miss Adelaide, a performer, and Nathan Detroit, the head of a crap game, and the recent meeting of Sarah Brown, the goody-two-shoes head of a Mission, and Sky Masterson, a renowned gambler. In an attempt to secure enough money to rent a space to run his crap game, Nathan bets Sky $1000 that he can't take Sarah with him to Havana. By promising to bring "one dozen genuine sinners" to Sarah's mission, Sky convinces Sarah to accompany him, but then surprisingly finds himself falling for her. The relationships and romances between these couples evolve until the end of the show.

Samantha Sharrett, playing Miss Adelaide, displayed thorough commitment to her role when both singing and acting. She especially impressed by maintaining Adelaide's characteristic voice throughout all her songs. Sharret also delivered some of the most convincing and entertaining facials in the show with a perfect diva-esque pout. Nathan Detroit, Miss Adelaide's fiancé, played by Ethan Schulze, provided a healthy dose of comic relief to the production, displaying bountiful humor and scheming charm. Kyle McKnight's portrayal of Sky Masterson was smooth and he added energy whenever he was in a scene. McKnight also had some of the best diction in the show, allowing the audience to consistently understand his lines. Alia Mahboob showed the marked change in Sarah Brown's character when she went from rigidly prim in New York to tipsy in Havana, with newly loose movements and facials. Both Sky and Sarah (McKnight and Mahboob) revealed their characters' development through the production, though in opposite ways: Sky became increasingly reserved with more exposure to Sarah and Sarah became increasingly outgoing with more exposure to Sky.

The scene changes were remarkably clean and quick for a high school production, with only one noticeable backdrop problem, which the crew quickly fixed. The lighting was excellent, setting the mood for each scene while still allowing for a proper setting. For example, the stage was well lit for nighttime scenes but, through use of colored lights and backdrops, the night aspect of the scenes still got through to the audience. The backdrops for the show were gorgeous, featuring city lights and neon signs, along with a tropical design for the Havana scenes.

Despite a slower pace in Act I, the entire cast ramped up the energy at the start of Act II. While cast diction was an area needing some improvement, the microphones aided audience understanding of the dialogue. The song "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," featuring Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Joe Bright), was a highlight which showcased the ensemble performing at a level of energy and synchronicity unequaled during the rest of the show.

The cast and crew of South County High School pulled together to perform a highly entertaining production of Guys and Dolls with smooth and seamlesss scene changes. As the Mission would put it: Hallelujah!