Have you ever tried to tell the story of Guys and Dolls in 30 seconds or less? It’s hard. Like, really hard. See, there’s Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit who have been together for 14 years and have yet to get married. She’s a showgirl, and he’s a game promoter. And then there’s Sarah Brown, the set-in-her-ways leader of the Save-a-Soul Mission, who finds herself at the center of a bet involving Sky Masterson, the highest and most powerful gambler of them all. Two story lines, completely off path from each other, zooming on a collision course no one can stop. If that was the whole tale, then maybe it would take less than 30 seconds.
But just like in real life, this isn’t the whole story. Just like in real life, each of these characters brings with them a whole host of complicated people who shape their viewpoints; apply pressure to their decisions; and yes, provide hope for love, stability, and security. There’s the Guys longing to make the big money. The Dolls desperate to discover what creates the perfect life. The Hot Box Dancers who have everything riding on their next big break, and the Mission Band who truly wants to answer their heart’s calling. All these humans, all converging together on the streets of New York City. The good, and the not so good of life is represented right here on this one corner.
So if Guys and Dolls is so complicated, then why is it often called the “perfect, classic” musical? Well, there’s a reason for this strong claim. The show itself does not require a heavy-handed vision for its success. The witty lines, the unforgettable music, the perfectly penned cadence of the 1950s New York dialect—it’s all there. The director, the actors, the musicians, all they need to do is trust the material and present it as honestly as they can.
But like life, Guys and Dolls demands more. It is essential, that the material be presented humanly—innocence and filled with surprise and hope. But at the same time, Guys and Dolls demands a suspension of realism. Each subplot of Guys and Dolls is based on the fictionalized short stories of Damon Runyon. He wrote exaggerated stories of the people he encountered. So today, you’ll see realism, but like Runyon’s stories, they’ll have a heightened exaggeration.
The demands of a classic Broadway show like this is not an easy undertaking. At PHS, we strive to provide students an even balance of show genres throughout their four years in the program. This year, our students have excelled at meeting the challenges presented by a classic Broadway show. Like the mission of our program, they have embraced the education, professionalism, and service necessary to tackle the complicated music, choreography, movement, and collaboration to create this incredible New York City masterpiece.
Like our students, the production team of the PHS Musical Theatre Program embraces this same mantra of education, professionalism, and service. They have spent hundreds of hours learning new techniques, creating a professional atmosphere, and serving our community for the betterment of our 90+ students. As I stand here celebrating 10 years at Palmyra, I am completely humbled by the support of my friends and incredibly supportive family. I truly mean it when I say, I could not, and I would not do this without you.
JASMINE BUCHER, DIRECTOR
