Now in their third year, The Broadway Players are going from strength to strength as a group thanks to the skill of Producer / Director Jade Powers. Although the Junior group lack the stage experience of the senior group, their enthusiasm, combined with some very talented performers, ensures that Guys and Dolls Jr, showing this week at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne, is a show of which they should be very proud.
The pre-recorded music gives a well prepared and secure base from which to show off the movement and vocal skills of the cast. Of the two female leads, Millie Jupp really establishes the quirky character of Adelaide, while Hannah Richards sings beautifully as Sarah. Ben Evans (Nathan Detroit) and Lewis Daynes (Sky Masterson) give great, but very contrasting, character performances while Kai Carson Melbourne (Nicely Nicely) and Archie Williams (Benny Southstreet) are very well cast indeed.
The full company dance numbers are very well produced, making good use of all available stage space, and really ramping up the feel good factor in numbers like Luck be a Lady and Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat. Special mention also goes to Millie Jupp’s performance of Adelaide’s Lament and to Lewis Daynes and Hannah Richards romantic duet, I’ll Know.
There are some lovely cameo roles in the support cast, including Charlotte Taylor as the ever present “cop” Lieutenant Brannigan and Connor Orr as General Cartwright, the leader of the Save-A-Soul Mission. There’s also a really cool tropical feel as we pay a short but sweet flying visit to Havana.
The costumes are very effective, with plenty of attention to detail, and the basic New York set is functional and practical and facilitates easy scene changes that are handled smoothly and efficiently.
The production comes over as very well rehearsed, is enjoyed by cast and audience alike and is a great advertisement for the future of musical theatre and, as this young cast grow older, for the success of the Broadway Players in years to come.
**** Four Stars