Putting together Lethbridge Musical Theatre’s November production is always a monumental challenge involving cast, crew and co-ordinators from all over the community. It is even more challenging when you lose your director mid way through rehearsals. That’s the challenge LMT faced with this year’s production of Guys and Dolls, running Nov. 7-22 at the Yates-Sterndale Bennett Theatre as director Ed Bayly had a heart attack a few weeks ago, from which he is thankfully recuperating at home from.
“It really has been a team effort,” said vocal director Sandy Brunelle.
“Ed had already done most of the blocking (determining where on stage all of the action takes place) before he had his health issues. So now we’re all weaving everything together,” she continued.
Charlie Fitzgerald, who was last on stage in Hatrix Theatre’s April 15-22 production of Spamalot, is excited to join Lethbridge Music Theatre as Sky Masterson and in the process gets to imitate one of his idols, Marlon Brando who played Sky Masterson in the 1955 movie.
“I’ve just always loved theatre and I’ve always wanted to be part of LMT,” Fitzgerald said, showing a detailed tattoo of Brando on his shin.
“ Sky is a high roller. He’s willing to bet on anything,” he described adding he is enjoying playing the character.
“ He’s pretty suave and I’ve always considered myself to be pretty suave too,” he said adding rehearsals have been a challenge as they have put everything together in two months.
“ I’m used to having four or five months to prepare. But we’ve been rehearsing Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 p.m.- 9 p.m., 10 p.m. lately,” he said.
“And I’m British, so I’ve had to put on an accent too,” he continued.
“ In this play the guys are guys and the dolls are dolls. A lot of this character fits who I am,” he said.
This year's production involves almost 30 actors and over a dozen people behind the scenes who have all been pitching in painting and building sets and sewing costumes.
“We’re all quite pleased at how well it’s coming together. We’ve all worked hard so it can become the stage show LMT is producing,” Brunelle said.
The Tony award winning Frank Loesser and Jo Swerling musical premiered on Broadway in 1950 and won a Tony Award for best musical.
“ Guys and Dolls is about this craps shooter/ the guys in New York City who is always looking to set up a game and trying to make it successful. They meet a mission band/ dolls. So it is about these two very different societies and how they interact,” Brunelle summarized.
Lethbridge Musical Theatre put on their first version of the production in 1968 and brought it back this year.
Dr. Tom Melling played Arvide Abernathy in the1968 production and reprises the same role in the 2014 production.
“He’s the head of the Salvation Army Mission in New York and deals with all of these gangsters. He looks after Sarah, the lead in the show,” he described.
“I get to sing this wonderful song with Sarah ‘More I Can Not Wish You,’” he said adding he is pleased to be able to play Arvide Abernathy again.
“ He’s a very simple, kind old man. He’s been a part of the Salvation Army for many years,” said Melling who has been part of Lethbridge Musical Theatre for many years.
“We used to bring in professional actors from out of town for shows. We brought in Doug Crosley from Toronto to play Sky Masterson in 1968 and we brought in the opera singer Robert McFerrin who sang with the Metropolitan Opera,” he recalled.
“ Now it is all local actors. We have a young, energetic cast. And I think they are going to put on a great presentation.
‘I’m 84 -years-old. I think I like the energy they have,” he enthused.
“ It’s been 46 years, so I get to revisit the past and that’s always fun,” he said.
“ It’s been amazing. We have such a strong cast. I think anybody who comes to see the show will be well rewarded,” he said.
His favourite part of the show is singing with Sarah, played by Lethbridge Musical Theatre newcomer Chris Peterson, who just moved to Lethbridge from Southern California with her new husband.
“I love theatre. I’ve been performing my whole life,” she said.
“I saw this play in the eighth grade and fell in love with it. So I’m glad I finally got a chance to do it,” she said adding it has been a challenge losing Ed Bayly midway through the rehearsals.
“It has also been a challenge being the newbie and w
orking with everybody,” she said adding many of the cast have worked together before.
She is enjoying playing the role of
Sarah.
“She’s eager to get the Mission to be successful. She finds out it is about to be closed down and she will do just about anything to save it,” she explained adding her character falls in love with the head “Guy” Sky Masterson.
“She’s a kind person. She’s a little naïve. She’s tentative but excited at the prospect of love,” she continued.
She has enjoyed her first foray in Lethbridge Theatre.
“I really love working with everyone and getting to know them and getting to see all of the talent Lethbridge has to offer,
” she said.
“ I hope the audience will come and see the production and see what twist we’ve given it as we bring it to life,” she said.
“I just want people to have a good time and see how much we love these characters and how much we love them for coming to the show,” she said.
Guys and Dolls runs at the Yates Theatre, Nov. 7-22 at 8 p.m. each night except Mondays and Tuesday. Tickets cost $28 for adults, $26 seniors and students $25 for family nights, Nov. 7-8. There are also matinee performances on Sundays at 2 p.m. A version of this story appears in the Nov. 6,2014 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
