Theatre--Review

This is the first review by Donald "Doc" Voorhies. Doc has been active as a player and director with both Evangeline Players and IPAL since 2006. He most recently directed Little Shop of Horrors in New Iberia and is presently in To Kill a Mockingbird in St. Martinville.

Guys and Dolls, the legendary Frank Loesser musical, is fifty-eight. But as presented by Lafayette High School as its spring musical, it has a vitality, excitement, and quality that makes every moment a joy! Guys and Dolls tells the story of Nathan Detroit, a New York City Gambler, and his fiancée (for 14 years) Adelaide. The plot centers on Nathan’s efforts to find a place for “the game” and Adelaide’s efforts to get Nathan to actually marry her. Filled with great musical numbers, including at least five songs that became (what used to be called) hits, it provides great humor, great dance, and great song.

The large cast of students at Lafayette High certainly lived up to the potential of the show. Leading the cast was Josh Coen as Nathan and Alex Hollerman as Adelaide. Coen’s singing and acting brought out the schemer in Nathan, and entertained the audience throughout. Hollerman was simply sensational as Adelaide – whether belting out songs like “Bushel and a Peck” or enthralling the audience with the humor and melodies of “Adelaide’s Lament,” her accent (remarkable), stage presence (formidable) and abilities (numerous) brought down the house. These leads were ably assisted by Jared Price as Sky Masterson and Alicia Neto as Sarah Brown who gave a most realistic interpretation of the secondary love story and by Phillip Boudreaux, Josef Rowe, and Johnny Johnson as sidekicks and co-conspirators with Detroit. Seth Minix was perfect as the serious Arvide.

Production values were high. Particularly well executed in this production were the large (very large) production numbers like “Bushel and a Peck” and “Take Back Your Mink” (doll night club numbers) and “Luck Be a Lady” (guy dance number) and “Havana” (a night club number). These were done with humor, originality, and dancing skill remarkable for high school students. The set and costumes were evocative of the 50’s era, and transitions between the many and varied scenes were virtually instantaneous. The rather large band was “right on” and did not overwhelm and singers on stage. Both the overture and exit music were an enjoyable concert in their own right. Bravo!

Director Paula Horn is to be congratulated for such an ambitious undertaking, done with such fidelity to the original. The discipline and coordination of the cast, stage crew, and musicians was remarkable. Choreographer Allison Barron, musical directors Holly Grefe and Marcus McCullough, and band director Scotty Walker brought the kids in the show up to a standard not always reached in a High School Musical. In the finale the entire cast (I believe over 70) was on stage and it was a remarkable sight to see! Luck was a lady to me and other theatergoers that night!
--Donald "Doc" Voorhies