Luck be a lady in this phenomenal show
Southern Light brings the iconic crap game of Guys and Dolls to the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh this week with a high-energy cast, brightly coloured costumes and a guessing-game set that leaves audiences in awe of the company’s talent. Originally premiering in 1950, this joyous classic arrives on the festival stage ahead of Southern Light’s return next year to the King’s Theatre. It is a phenomenal show from start to finish, never letting the energy drop for a second, with colourful costumes and West End-level choreography. With productions dating back to 1972 with Waltzes from Vienna, the love and passion poured into not only this production but the company overall is abundantly clear.
Greg McCafferty-Thomson and Olivia Hall take to the stage for their company debut as Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown, portraying the moral enemies-to-lovers romance at the centre of the production. Their dynamic is instantly engaging, with the gradual lowering of emotional barriers and growing connection unfolding naturally throughout the performance. With several lead credits between them, McCafferty-Thomson and Hall play the roles of Sky and Sarah beautifully from start to finish, delivering chemistry that is impossible to resist and making for a brilliant debut.
Whilst the show follows this couple, it is truly John Bruce and Lara Kidd who steal the show as Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide. Kidd and Bruce display excellent comedic timing in their scenes together, with the complications surrounding Adelaide’s mother providing some of the production’s funniest moments. It is impossible not to laugh while watching this duo on stage, and both deliver outstanding performances as Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit.
A very special mention must also go to Fionn Cameron and Peter Tomassi as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Benny Southstreet. Their comedic timing throughout the show is excellent, and both bring an infectious positive energy from the moment they step on stage until the very end. Brilliant performances from both.
This production of Guys and Dolls fully embraces the bright and colourful world its characters inhabit, showcased through the costumes and brilliant attention to detail, particularly in Nicely-Nicely’s suit during Don’t Rock The Boat. From the bold pinstriped suits to the vibrant scenery in Havana, the stage bursts with colour throughout (reminiscent of a certain technicolour dream coat). It is a joy to watch this visual vision come to life through the wardrobe and design choices used in the production.
Finally, a very special shoutout must go to choreographer Janice Bruce. The standard of choreography throughout the show rivals that of professional productions, featuring a range of lifts and tricks that would not look out of place on Strictly Come Dancing. The performers bring enormous energy and passion to every number, making it remarkably easy to forget this is not a professional production. The dance numbers are consistently impressive, particularly Luck Be A Lady featuring the incredible Alyssa Taylor, whose performance is truly outstanding.
Overall, this first experience of both a Southern Light production and Guys and Dolls leaves a lasting impression and creates an immediate desire to return and watch it again. As previously mentioned, the love and passion invested in not only this production but the company over many years is evident throughout. Southern Light deserves every success with the remainder of the run and next year’s return to the King’s Theatre for what already sounds set to be another memorable production.
This show runs at Festival Theatre until 16th May. Tickets here.