‘Dolls’ Cast Is Music to the Ears

HUNTINGTON BEACH — “Guys and Dolls” was one of the hits of Broadway’s 1950 season, and the show’s highlights were the unforgettable performance of Robert Alda as the tough but charming Sky Masterson, and the kinky vocal calisthenics of Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide.

Sadly, down through the years, every Miss Adelaide has tried to copy Blaine’s squeaky delivery, and the Sky Mastersons have been getting less rough-edged and so genteel you wonder how they work up the courage to hit Times Square, much less gamble there.

At the Huntington Beach Playhouse, director Kent Johnson puts those two elements back into focus in his mostly by-the-book staging of Frank Loesser’s classic musical that retells some equally classic Damon Runyon tales. He has cast the estimable Scott Ruiz as Masterson and an inventive Roberta Kay as Miss Adelaide, and both bring just the right qualities to their roles.

Ruiz walks on stage with attitude, exactly what Masterson needs, and even when he runs into Salvation Army Sgt. Sarah Brown (Lisa Don Vito), his heart is held in check by the bet he has made with Nathan Detroit (Steven Sloan). If Masterson can’t get Brown to Havana for dinner, Detroit will get the grand he needs to keep his floating crap game afloat. Ruiz balances the hard-edged gambler with the swain beautifully throughout.

Kay is equally as interesting to watch and to listen to. She only squeaks a couple of times and makes Miss Adelaide her own with an individual approach not only in her songs but also in her general delivery.

Miss Adelaide’s frustration is Detroit, and Sloan couldn’t be better as Detroit, with a good comic sense and a foolish optimism.

As Sgt. Brown, Don Vito is charming enough that her attempts at starchiness don’t even fool Masterson, and she sings beautifully. Both she and Ruiz have that crystal-clear Broadway sound that verges on being operatic but allows each word a lucidity that is the best tribute to Loesser’s lyrics. Ruiz’s “My Time of Day” is memorable.

Kent has also cast, sometimes against type, some interesting actors as the supporting gamblers. Mark J. Baranowski as Benny Southstreet, David Malek as Harry the Horse, Marc Channick as Rusty Charlie and especially Rovin J. Dickinson as Nicely-Nicely Johnson stand out.

Dickinson’s “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” stirred up even a very relaxed Sunday matinee audience. Harry Ratner’s Arvide Abernathy, Brown’s grandfather, is standard issue, but he is touching in his gentle advice to his granddaughter in “More I Cannot Wish You.”

Musical director Alan M-L Wager keeps the score (it’s recorded) moving briskly along. It makes more noticeable the fact that Johnson has allowed his actors to let down the energy in many of the dialogue sections, with holes between cues you could drive a semi through.

* “Guys and Dolls,” Huntington Beach Playhouse, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends Feb. 9. $12-$15. (714) 375-0696. Running time: 2 hours, 50 minutes.

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“Guys and Dolls,”

Scott Ruiz: Sky Masterson

Lisa Don Vito: Sgt. Sarah Brown

Roberta Kay: Miss Adelaide

Steven Sloan: Nathan Detroit

Harry Ratner: Arvide Abernathy

Rovin J. Dickinson: Nicely-Nicely Johnson

Mark J. Baranowski: Benny Southstreet

Marc Channick: Rusty Charlie

David Malek: Harry the Horse

A Huntington Beach Playhouse production of Frank Loesser’s musical adaptation of Damon Runyon stories. Produced by Patricia M. Powers. Direction/scenic design: Kent Johnson. Musical direction: Alan M-L Wager. Choreography: Kerri Rocchi. Costume design: Loretta Lupo. Lighting design: John Nokes, Chad Brooks, Terri Brooks, Shawn De Hart. Stage manager: Ron Samson.