GUYS AND DOLLS – REVIEW OF 2026 STRATFORD FESTIVAL PRODUCTION

Reviewed by James Karas

It is opening week at the Stratford Festival and if you are lucky or dedicated to the theatre you can see seven productions in one week. There is nothing better.

After The Tempest we were treated to lighter fare, the musical Guys and Dolls. First produced in 1950, it has the classic format of lively music, songs with a melody and wonderful lyrics and a plot that induces laughter and floats on the lighter side.

The plot involves New York’s underworld, the crap players, the serious gamblers and a couple of love stories one of which involves the love of a gambler for a Salvation Army sergeant whom he convinces to go to Cuba with him.

A musical at Stratford means Donna Feore and she is the star of this production as director and choreographer. As director, she does excellent work in handling the large cast, delivering the humour and a fine overall production. The opening night audience loved it. 

But her achievement and I dare say love is choreography and the production features dazzling dances. She believes in precision, disciplined performances, a dazzling display of athleticism and simply extraordinary dancing. The rest is a bonus. 

The star of the show is New York City where the dedicated crap shooters are looking for a place to ply their trade or is it hobby. The police, you see, are not fond of gambling and want to arrest its practitioners. To make it short, the gentlemen find a Salvation Army mission in Manhattan in which to enjoy their trade.

Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Miss Adelaide, Dan Chameroy as 

Sky Masterson and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Sarah Brown. 

Photo: Dariane Sanche.

More specifically, let us see what two leaders of the underworld are doing   Sky Masterson (Dan Chameroy) is attracted to Salvation Army Sergeant Sarah (Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane), and the impecunious Nathan Detroit (Mark Uhre) bets $1000 that Sky cannot take Sarah to Cuba. What are the chances of that happening? Do I need to tell you that Eros will stick his fingers here even though these people are not Greek?

And did you know that Nathan has been engaged to Miss Adelaide (Jennifer Rider-Shaw) for twelve years, according to him. But Mis Adelaide has told her mother that they are married and in fact have five or six children. The conjugal entanglements are an obvious source of humour, and the actors make sure they get the laughter. But we need and get one hell of a show. The brightly lit stage shows off New York and Havana, and the music generates life and excitement. The costumes are tantamount to a fashion show as the ladies perform at the Hot Box Club.

The quality of singing has a wide range from the reasonable to the good. The cast has some Stratford veterans and some newcomers. A credit to the solid foundations of the repertory company.

 Colourful characters abound, of course. Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Steve Ross) who is in for the comedy and some singing, but no dancing. Big gambler from Chicago Big Julie (Juan Chioran) with a voice all his own, and characters with nicknames like Ox, Horse and Rusty. On the side of the angels, we have General Matilda (Starr Domingue) Arvide (Stephen Patterson), Lt. Branigan (Nehassaiu DeGannes), and a huge cast including Gamblers, Hot Box Dolls, Mission Band, Guys, not to mention Gangsters, Runyonland Citizens, Havana Dancers, Bridesmaids and Cops. You get the idea. I bow to all of them and give them a standing ovation. Far too many to speak individually about them

The artistic team gets huge marks for a show that needs and displays their talents. Set Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Costume Designer Dana Osborne, Lighting Designer Bonnie Beecher, Sound Designer Haley Parcher and Music Director Franklin Brasz all have crucial and obvious roles in putting the show together.

The musical and this production provide everything for a thoroughly entertaining evening at the theatre, but the most outstanding feature is Donna Feore’s choreography and its execution.
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Guys and Dolls by Frank Loesser (music and lyrics), Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows (book) based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon, opened on May 26 and will continue in repertory until November 1, 2026, at the Festival Theatre, Stratford, Ont. For more information go to:  www.stratfordfestival.ca

James Karas is the Culture Editor of The Greek Press, Toronto.