Guys and Dolls
at J.E.B. Stuart High School

Reviewed on November 19, 2016

Audrey Brown
Wakefield School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The stage at JEB Stuart High School was suddenly alight with the bustle of a New York City street as the Stuart orchestra struck up a jazzy tune. The actors strutted, sneaked, and strolled down Broadway as the high school's extremely enjoyable production of Guys and Dolls began.

Guys and Dolls, one of Broadway's most classic, well-known musicals, was first performed on Broadway in 1950, bringing to the stage the themes of gangsters, crap players, and the occasional conservative missionary. In the story, Sky Masterson, a well-known gambler, makes a bet with his old friend Nathan Detroit that he can take a "doll," or a girl, to Havana, Cuba with him for a night; Sky and Sarah Brown, the missionary who fulfills this bet, eventually fall hopelessly in love. The cast at JEB Stuart depicted this relationship and the rest of the musical masterfully.

From this cast, one actor that truly stood out was Elijah Williams as Nicely-Nicely, who provided yet another element of comedy to the production. His comedic timing was precise and always earned a hearty laugh especially when he entered the stage with a banana. His voice was also always audible and clear above other parts, and not a note was off-tune. Another notable performer was Mary Harrell as Miss Adelaide: in each of her scenes, she commanded the stage and infatuated the audience with her every move, whether it be an unexpected removal of her outer costume on the stage at the Hotbox or a song where her voice rose clearly and gracefully above the others.

Other memorable characters included John Lesko as Sky Masterson, the sly gambler who wins the heart of Sarah Brown (Sara Zewdu), who also combined her clear soprano voice with smooth acting and good chemistry with her partner; Ameer Yaqoob as Benny Southstreet. Yaqoob's performance in his group of three friends stood out even as he served as a character that the others picked on and put down. Also standing out, Randie Goode as Nathan Detroit, who constantly remained true to his accurate accent and characterization along with contributing yet another strong voice to the music.

The tech departments performed adequately, even as many of the leads' microphone cords were very visible to the audience but only slightly distracting from the beauty of their otherwise-strong versions of the classic Broadway songs like the audience favorite "Sue Me." Overall, the musical aspect of JEB Stuart's Guys and Dolls was one of the most prevalent: harmonies in every song were discernable and pleasant, and the larger roles were all filled with talented vocalists who combined good technique with excellent pitch and control.

Both the cast and crew of JEB Stuart High School, created an enjoyable escape to the theater with their production of Guys and Dolls, filled with laughter, love, and beautiful music. The audience was drawn into the emotions of gangsters, gamblers, and their lovers, making the production an unforgettable experience.

Anneka Noe
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

A tale of unlikely couples on the storied streets of 1950's New York City, JEB Stuart's production of Guys and Dolls enthralled their audience in laughter and awe.

An acclaimed production since 1955, Guys and Dolls tells the story of good emerging out of evil. Mr. Sky Masterson, a wealthy and a dedicated crapshooter, makes a bet that he can take any dame out for a night on the town. When he is dared to charm a struggling missionary by the name of Sarah Brown, he succeeds but is forced to face the budding of an unexpected romantic connection. Meanwhile, his fellow crapshooter, Nathan Detroit, struggles to juggle running the crap game while pleasing his fiancée of fourteen-years, Adelaide, a hotbox dancer and dedicated companion.

The cast and crew of JEB Stuart's production did an admirable job of bringing unique energy to this classic tale. With strong harmonies that delighted the audience and honest comedic timing that brought endless laughter, strong leads, and a few very strong vocalists carried the show.

With an enviable spark and strong character commitment, Mary Harrell as Miss Adelaide completely stole the show. Her comedic timing was brilliant, and her commitment to her accent and furthermore to her lover, was commendable and tremendously entertaining. Additionally, the chemistry between the two lovers, played by Mary Harrell and Randie Goode (Nathan Detroit), was convincing, most especially evident in their heart-warming song "Sue Me." A charming John Lesko as the flirtatious Sky Masterson was an effective casting choice as he brought his own finesse to a hackneyed character.

Another show stopper, Elijah Williams as Nicely Nicely Johnson was the carrier of the harmonies in each song and furthermore elicited laughter from an adoring audience each time he stepped foot on stage. Each choice he made --the shaking on a glass, the inflections of his voice, and the constant consumption of food—was equally successful and enjoyable, particularly in "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." Furthermore, the relationship developed between him and his buddies, portrayed by Ameer Yaqoob (Benny Southstreet) and Jonah Garces-Foley (Rusty Charlie), was delightful in their bickering and horseplay. Despite some melodramatics and synchronicity issues, the ensemble was devoted to their individual characters and added energy to the show.

The costumes of the show were quite exceptional, from the suits of the sinners to the quaint dresses of the Havana crows and on the hotbox stage. The costume transitions, most conspicuously of Adelaide and her ensemble, were quick and a wonderful surprise. Despite some minor muffling, the sound was quite strong, and mixed the harmonies quite well.

For such a well-known show, the cast and crew of JEB Stuart's production of Guys and Dolls did a most commendable job on putting their own twist on an infamous story.

Claire Goldhush
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

A "Bushel and a Peck" of laughter emits from the theatre as JEB Stuart performs the musical "Guys and Dolls" by Frank Loesser. They capture their audience with both knee-slapping comedy and heartfelt love scenes as they tell the story of two unique couples living in the 1950s.

"Guys and Dolls" is a story about gambler Nathan Detroit (played by Randie Goode) trying to find a location for his craps game, a pastime that was outlawed at the time. While keeping his hobby hidden from his longtime fiancée, Miss Adelaide (Mary Harrell), Detroit finds himself betting his friend, Sky Masterson (John Lesko), in order to get money to pay for a playing space. Detroit finds himself caught between his game and his dame while Masterson unexpectedly falls for missionary Sarah Brown (Sara Zewdu) who happened to be the very woman he and Detroit were betting on. The audience sees the dilemmas they go through, as well as their gangster friends.

Elijah Williams (who plays Nicely-Nicely) stole the show with his impressive voice and impeccable comedic timing. Williams made clear character choices which enhanced his performance and made him even more enjoyable to watch. Mary Harrell (Adelaide) shone in the spotlight, displaying her ability to hit her notes loud and proud, exuding confidence and attitude with every step. Her relationship with Nathan Detroit was not only believable, but also admirable, as she always knew how to keep him in order.

Hair, by Margie Greer, was very well-executed. She managed to give each female extensive volume, a popular hair trend at the time, which not only enhanced the nostalgic environment, but also seemed to enhance the performance of the actors. Noah Taylor, lighting designer, cleverly included a bright, white line of light around the perimeter of the stage to differentiate between the street scenes and the hotbox scenes. His lighting decisions highlighted the actors and pulled the audience's focus to the singer even when another scene was going on in the background.

Some ensemble members lacked energy, but were compensated by the upbeat, professionally delivered music from the orchestra and extreme energy from the leads. As a whole, the cast worked very well together and sounded good, too. During the ensemble songs, the different harmonies could be heard clearly and mixed beautifully.

From the knee-slapping humor to the subtle jokes, this cast executed each line with extreme passion and professionalism, a hard quality to obtain in a high school production. Even through the antics, the audience was glad to see these characters get "The Happy Ending" they deserve.

Jasmine Pierce
Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

One lucky roll and a beautiful doll-what else could a guy want? In the 1950s New York was hopping with activity. Between gamblers shooting crap and trying to keep a low profile, missionaries trying to reach sinners, gangsters starting a ruckus, ladies dancing around in sparkling dresses, and a mime somewhere in the middle of the chaos, the inner-cities of New York were a place to behold. JEB Stuart High School brings the madness of the city to its very stage in its production of "Guys and Dolls," written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

This entertaining story follows two gambling men -- Mr. Sky Masterson and Mr. Nathan Detroit. Sky is just trying to win a wager that he can woo the young missionary Sarah Brown. During this endeavor of his, something happens that he was not expecting-he actually falls in love with the missionary. Meanwhile, Nathan is looking for a place to stage his crap game for some impatient gangsters, Nathan's task would be easier if he did not have to hide from his fiance of fourteen years, Adelaide, who is in great opposition of his crap dealings.


When the lights first come up on Stuart's New York scene, the audience is immediately met with the hustle-and-bustle of New York streets. The first song, "Fugue for Tinhorns," (featuring Nicely-Nicely, Benny Southstreet, and Rusty Charlie) sets the tone for the rest of the show---humorous and full of impressive harmonies.


Comedic timing and strong vocals are a must for the classic "Guys and Dolls." Elijah Williams (Nicely-Nicely) demonstrates both beautifully. Williams had the audience laughing during every line and captivated with every song. A second notable performance was given by Mary Harrell (Miss Adelaide). Playing the sweet and bubbly fiance of Nathan, Harrell, too, had the audience in awe of her powerful voice and whimsical, humorous acting-especially during "Adelaide's Lament." John Lesko (Sky Masterson), Randie Goodie (Nathan Detroit), and Sara Zewdu (Sarah Brown) also showed off great characterization and impressive vocals throughout the show.


One of the most memorable moments of the show was when Sky (Lesko) prepared himself for a vital role in the iconic number "Luck Be A Lady." Combining Sky's vocals with the rest of the anxious gamblers, "Luck Be A Lady" did not disappoint. Another great stage moment happens when Nicely-Nicely (Williams) decides to give his testimony as a sinner, causing the entire cast to engage in the gospel-esque number "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." The charisma of each cast member came out in this number.


Stuart's costumes blended nicely with the story line and time period. The dresses for the Hot Box dancers were especially impressive as some tore off to reveal another costume underneath. Makeup and hair were simple but appropriate. Last to be mentioned but certainly not least is Stuart's student orchestra. The orchestra playing kept the jazzy New York mood alive. A vital part of "Guys and Dolls," JEB Stuart's orchestra did the classic score of this musical complete justice.


Pulling off a comedy that demands high-belting, breath-control, clear tone, starry-eyed romances, New York accents, genuine humor, and constant high energy is a big task, and JEB Stuart pulled it off beautifully.

Jamie Goodson
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Just as Sarah takes an enlightening and refreshing trip to Havana, Cuba, JEB Stuart's production of Guys and Dolls took the entire audience into a whole new world filled with vibrant costumes, stunning vocals and rollicking performances. First performed in 1950, Guys and Dolls is a classic musical that usually finds its way into everyone's life at some point. The show's jazzy music and clever lyrics were composed by Frank Loesser, while Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows wrote the book. Guys and Dolls centers around two couples: Masterful gambler Sky Masterson and missionary Sarah Brown, and the less masterful gambler Nathan Detroit and club dancer Miss Adelaide. The story tells how their love affairs get intertwined with gambling and a "Save-a-Soul Mission" in a bustling New York City.

Mary Harrell brought charm and hilarity to the musical each time she strutted onto the stage as Miss Adelaide, the fiancee of Nathan Detroit played by Randie Goode. Not only was her voice extremely admirable, with its bright quality and stunning vibrato, her unique portrayal of a well-known dizzy, whiny blonde was enlivening. Her song with her troubled fiance, Sue Me, was absolutely delightful. Also commendable was the performance of John Lesko as Sky Masterson. He accurately impersonated the powerful role, with his cunning comedic timing and effective body language, including a wide stance and large gestures. Lesko also demonstrated a clear transition as he transformed into a "saved soul" towards the end of the play, in contrast to the crafty sinner he was.

Throughout the entire musical, the performance of Elijah Williams as Nicely-Nicely, a stooge-like gangster assistant to Nathan Detroit, consistently impressed the audience. Combining remarkable vocal prowess and a lovable jocular presence, Williams won the audience over. His clear tenor notes were always heard and appreciated in group numbers, and his strict adherence to his character was truly remarkable. His trio with Benny Southstreet (Ameer Yaqoob) and Rusty Charlie (Jonah Garces-Foley) was engaging and memorable, especially with their impressive harmonies. Other characters stood out as well, including the intimidating yet hilarious Big Jule, played by David Osafu, and the concerned and loving General Matilda Cartwright, played by Mia Medina.

The work of Leihoku Aust with the costumes was very respectable, especially with her ability to give suits to high schoolers that fit so well (as the show included a great number of suits). The uniformity of the Hot Box dancers' outfits was extremely pleasing and impressive. Most of the actors had their hair in an authentic retro style: ladies with pin curls or men with slicked parts. Noah Taylor and Dixon Auch lighted the show in a way that made sure that the audience knew exactly what time of day it was, incorporating lighter more vibrant hues during the day and darker more blue tones in the nighttime. The orchestra sounded extremely professional and balanced perfectly with the microphones.

Overall, JEB Stuart's production of Guys and Dolls was lively and fun; the audience had fun sitting and watching these actors play. Both the actors and the crew worked together to create a piece that let the audience escape for a few hours. Maybe not to Havana, Cuba, but some place just as exuberant.

Roberta Benjamin
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
Submitted for publication to Connection

The unlikely combination of gangsters, missionaries, and showgirls has proven to be a delightfully entertaining mix since Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway in 1950. The musical comedy portrays the essence of Prohibition era New York with a number of interesting narratives, dance numbers, and witty dialogue. Jeb Stuart High School executed a well-done production of this gem from the Golden Age of theatre.

Regarding acting, the show was sufficiently carried by strong leads and an effective ensemble. Some of the most notable performances were by more minor characters. Particularly, the supporting role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson played by Elijah Williams was unforgettable. Williams made strong and effective character choices with both a precise New York accent and bold physicality. Even more noteworthy, Williams was able to remain fully committed to this character, while also remaining in tune and rhythm during musical numbers and solos. Another performance that must be mentioned was the several moments the drunk man had on stage. Played by not an actor, but a crew member, and only for a small amount of stage time, the drunk man made the audience laugh the hardest in the entire show. In all, most actors tackled difficult New York accents fittingly, committed to their characters, sang effectively, and kept the audience engaged in the show.

Another stand-out element of the show was the costuming. The costumes effectively made clear the various groups of characters in the show whether gangster, missionary, or show girl. A particular feat for the costumers was Miss Adelaide's costume reveal during "Bushel and a Peck."

Besides acting and costumes, other elements like lighting, sound, set, and makeup were all proficient in creating the atmosphere of New York City (and at one point Havana). If you enjoy classic Broadway musicals, Jeb Stuart's production of the iconic Guys and Dolls will not let you down.

Makena Kiara
Oakcrest School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

The hustle and bustle of New York City, illegal activities, the struggles of love, and gangster swagger… While this sounds like a rendition of "The Godfather", it's actually Jeb Stuart High School's performance of "Guys and Dolls".

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, "Guys and Dolls" ran for 1,200 performances when it first opened in Broadway in 1950. It is based on two short stories by Damon Runyon: "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure".

"Guys and Dolls" is a story of gambling and love, set in 1950s New York City. Nathan Detroit, small time gangster, tries to find the money to set up a craps game in town while the police are intent on catching Detroit at the crime. Adelaide, Nathan's fiancee and hot box performer, laments that they've been engaged for fourteen years. Nathan turns to a fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the money and a bet results in Sky going after a prudish missionary, Sarah Brown, taking us from the bustling streets of New York, to the romantic restaurants of Havana, Cuba.

Elijah Williams had an amazing stage presence and truly captured the stage in each and every scene he was in as Nicely-Nicely. From his fantastic physicality, to his spot-on accent, to his strong voice in songs; it was obvious that Williams was fully committed to his role, and did not falter once. Mary Harrell played the classic showgirl, Miss Adelaide. Mary commanded the stage each time with her expressive gestures and powerful voice. She was the perfect "gangster's moll" with her loud personality and dumb blonde moments. Sarah Zewdu had a pure and clear soprano voice, just right for her character, Sarah Brown's straight-laced demeanor. John Lesko positively oozed style as the handsome and fashionable Sky Masterson. Lesko's steady charm and self-assuredness sold the essence of the confident Sky. Yet, even despite his flaws, Lesko managed to make him extremely likeable. His character stood out to the audience because of his easy going swagger and charisma on stage. Randie Goode had impeccable comedic timing as Nathan Detroit, which really carried along the show. His chemistry with Mary Harrell (Miss Adelaide) was very convincing as a gangster romance.

Though at times the set up of the theatre made it difficult for the audience to see, the costumes and make-up were perfect for the jazzy 1950s setting. In addition, the orchestra was amazing. They were very in time with the singers on stage, and it was clear that all of the pieces were well-rehearsed.

Despite Sky Masterson's doubts whether luck would be a lady, I can say with confidence that she was in the favor of whoever had the pleasure of watching Jeb Stuart High School's well-executed performance of "Guys and Dolls".