by Lorie Lewis Ham
Fresno Pacific University’s spring musical is the classic musical Guys and Dolls, and it is being presented at the Selma Arts Center. It opened last night, and is only playing this weekend.
Guys and Dolls is a musical set in 1940s New York featuring a group of gamblers, and a group of mission workers who are trying to save the gamblers’ souls. Nathan Detroit (Dylan Hardcastle) is one of the gamblers and he is trying to find a place to hold his floating crap game, while at the same time trying to keep his fiancé of 14 years, singer and dancer Miss Adelaide (Annelise Escobedo), from finding out. Desperate to get the money he needs for the location for the game, Nathan bets visiting gambler Sky Masterson (Robbie Hill) that he can’t get the “doll” who runs the mission, Sarah Brown (Taylor Delgado), to go with him to Cuba for the night. Sky sets out to get Sarah to go with him and finds himself changed along the way, and things of course don’t go smoothly for Nathan.

Left to right-Benny (Gracie Robinson), Nathan Detroit (Dylan Hardcastle), and Nicely-Nicely (Daniel Longoria)
I first saw Guys and Dolls when I watched the Frank Sinatra movie version many years ago. The music and characters are fun, and this show provides everything you would expect from a classic musical, including several big song and dance numbers. The songs include many familiar ones such as “Luck Be A Lady,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Guys and Dolls,” and one of my favorites, “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” (performed by Daniel Longoria as gambler Nicely-Nicely). Everyone in this show did a wonderful job–the singing, acting, and dancing were all well done. The costumes were colorful and fitting to the time period, and a live orchestra is always a plus. First time director Brooke Aiello deserves kudos for putting the pieces together so perfectly.
Annelise Escobedo was hilarious and absolutely delightful as the over dramatic Adelaide. One of my favorite characters in the show is Nathan Detroit–that is the character Sinatra played in the movie –and Dylan Hardcastle did a great job in this role. Taylor Delgado has a lovely voice; Robbie Hill did a good job of playing Sky Masterson, and the pair worked well together. Another favorite song for me was when Sarah’s grandfather, Arvide (Chris Carsten), sang “More I Cannot Wish You.”
If you are looking for a fun show for your weekend, head on out and support FPU theatre at the Selma Arts Center, 1935 High St., Selma, CA-you won’t regret it! The show only runs this weekend so don’t miss it! Tickets can be purchased online and at the door. For more info check out the FPU Theatre website.
You can find more theatre articles, and other entertainment articles, in our Arts & Entertainment section.
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