The Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full review.

This "Guys" makes for a doll of a show

Published: 03.05.10

***1/2 (out of four stars)

Who knows how much a bushel and/or a peck actually are, but I'll lay down a marker that's how much you're likely going to love Town Hall Arts Center's "Guys & Dolls."

This guy says the (war)horse can do.

OK, I'll stop butchering Frank Loesser's lyrics just to make the rather obvious point: Even at age 60, "Guys & Dolls" is pretty much the perfect musical.

And when you put lead actors together with the kind of singing voices that director Robert Wells has; and when you paint your ensemble of 22 with the starburst of vibrant zoot suit color that costume designer Jim Miller has; and when you pull it all off with confident humor and pinch-cheeking adorability that this entire cast has, you can't much help but roll sevens.

Not to mention vocal harmonies that are stirring enough to save a soul.

Town Hall is packing them in for a production that, honestly, it could have mailed in and done just as well at the box office. Instead, it goes mostly all out. With superb singers like proven vet David Ambroson as Sky Masterson and rising star Elisa Spencer as Sarah Brown; with the versatile Scott McLean as rapscallion Nathan Detroit and the irresistible Heather Doris as Adelaide, all you really have to do is get out of the way.

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Review by David Marlowe

Bob Wells is directing "Guys and Dolls" over at Town Hall Arts in Littleton. that means this musical is fast-paced and full of fun. Common knowledge if you are familiar with the shows Wells directs. Kelly Kates has created some sensational choreography. The big numbers such as "Luck Be a Lady Tonight," and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat" are filled with jaw-dropping high energy dancing. The down side of this is that sometimes the actors are so out of breath following the athleticism of the dance, it takes a few seconds for them to even be able to speak. Donna Kolpan Debreceni has laid down some great musical tracks, which are thoroughly enjoyable as well. Carla Kaiser Kotrc gives General Matilda B. Cartwright a hilarious case of elongated vowel syndrome. Her character work is high comedy. Matt LaFontaine's Nicely Nicely Johnson is a highly stylized piece of work you can look forward to seeing. Someone's going to have to tell the audience at Town Hall to sit down because Mr. La Fontaine's Nicely Nicely has them standing and clapping in awe after his rendition of "Sit Down Your're Rockin' the Boat." All of the principals have been cast for their great looks and even greater pipes. David Ambroson sounds great as Skye Masterson. Elisa Spenser is auditory heaven as Sarah Brown, the Salvation Army Doll. Heather Doris is hilarious as Miss Adelaide, the long suffering girl friend of Nathan Detroit. Her "Take Back Your Mink" is hilarious. Scott McLean has been cast in the role of Nathan Detroit. His take on Nathan's antics and the singing and dancing thereof are vey fine indeed. Jimmy Miller is brilliant as Benny Southstreet. Miller is also responsible for the outrageously flashy costumes. Matthew Kepler plays Calvin as well as a number of walk-ons, which provide laughs during several of the scene changes. Tina Anderson's very fine set is enhanced by the lighting by Seth Alison.

Not to be missed.

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

They’ve got the show right here

Published: 02.21.10

Lights focus on Rusty Charlie, Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Benny Southstreet at a newsstand, as they offer the day’s racing tips: “I’ve got the horse right here...”

“Fugue for Tin Horns” instantly opens Town Hall’s tightly-paced, totally charming production of “Guys and Dolls: a Musical Fable of Broadway” by Frank Loesser. Rich Cadwallader, Matt La Fontaine and Jim Miller and the show’s numerous other guys are dressed in flashy gambler attire — checks, stripes, bright colors, zoot suit cut — in costumes designed by the versatile Miller.

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Wells brought back longtime Town Hall favorites David Ambrosian and Scott McLean to play Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit, with strong soprano Elisa Spencer as Sgt. Sarah Brown and perky Heather Doris as cold-prone Miss Adelaide, Detroit’s fiancee for 14 years. Carla Kaiser Kotrc gives an extra twist to stuffy general Matilda B. Cartwright and Nick Ortiz Trammell as the Salvation Army’s Arvide sings the lovely, fatherly “More I Cannot Wish You” to Sarah.

Detroit thinks he has a sure bet when he challenges the suave Masterson to get a date with the Salvation Army’s Sarah. But maybe she can save him!

Wells’ sense of comic timing and tongue in cheek approach give an extra polish to the show.

Tying the tale and characters together is Detroit’s ongoing search for a location for the “Oldest Established” permanent crap game in New York, which he has operated at various locations for years. The heat is on as Irish Lt. Brannigan (Darren Chilton) pursues him, he needs $1000 to nail use of the Biltmore garage, while Harry the Horse, Big Julie and others press him for tonight’s spot.

Choreographer Kelly Kates has engineered large dance numbers — particularly the crap game in the sewer — with imagination and skill and Matt La Fontaine’s rendition of Nicely-Nicely’s “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,“ with Kates’ choreography, is a show stopper, no matter how well we know it.

Reviews of Past Shows at Town Hall Arts Center

Sylvia REVIEWS:

Colorado Backstage Review by Holly Bartges - Click HERE to read the full review.

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

Oliver! REVIEWS:

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

OutFront Colorado Magazine Review by David Marlowe- Click HERE to read the full review, on page 22.

Grease REVIEWS:

The Colorado Backstage Review by Holly Bartges- Click HERE to read the full review.

The Denver Post Review by Ricardo Baca- Click HERE to read the full review.

Oklahoma! REVIEWS:

The Denver Post Review by John Moore- Click HERE to read the full review.

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

Bat Boy REVIEWS:

The Denver Post Review by Angela Clemmons- Click HERE to read the full review..

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

Gypsy REVIEWS:

The Denver Post Review by John Moore- Click HERE to read the full review.

My Way REVIEWS:

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

The Denver Post Review by John Moore- Click HERE to read the full review.

The Further Adventures of Maide Marian (Children's Theatre) REVIEWS:

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

The Full Monty REVIEWS:

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full review.

Rocky Mountain News Review by Lisa Bornstein - Click HERE to read the full review.

Company REVIEWS:

The Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full the review.

Rocky Mountain News Review by Lisa Bornstein - Click HERE to read the full the review.

Colorado Backstage Review by Holly Bartges - Click HERE to read the full review.

Swingtime Canteen REVIEWS:

The Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full the review.

Fiddler on the Roof REVIEWS:

Littleton Independent Review by Sonya Ellingboe - Click HERE to read the full the review.

Always...Patsy Cline REVIEWS:

Q&A with Denver Post Theaer Critic John Moore - Click HERE to read the interview.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat REVIEWS:

Colorado Community Newspapers Review by Paige Ingram - Click HERE to read the full review.

The Denver Post Review by Ricardo Baca - Click HERE to read the full the review.

My Fair Lady REVIEWS:

Denver Post Review by Ricardo Baca - Click HERE to read the full the review

Colorado Backstage review by Holly Bartges - Click HERE to read the full review

1776 REVIEWS:

Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full review

Rocky Mountain News by Lisa Bornstein - Click HERE to read the full review

Colorado Backstage with Holly Bartges - Click HERE to read the full review

FOOTLOOSE REVIEWS:

Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full review

Colorado Backstage with Holly Bartges - Click HERE to read the full review

I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE REVIEWS:

Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full review.

Colorado Backstage with Holly Bartges - Click HERE to read the full review

Colorado Backstage with guest Nora Gift - Click HERE to read the full review

Denver Post Review by John Moore - Click HERE to read the full review

Colorado Backstage with Holly Bartges - click HERE to read the full review.

Westword Review by Juliet Wittman - click HERE to read the full review.