‘Guys and Dolls’: Mixed Company

Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls” is still the smashing show it was when it opened on Broadway in 1950. Based on stories by Damon Runyon, it hasn’t dated in its almost mythological story of Manhattan low-life hucksters finding redemption. Of course, in Runyon these guys aren’t ever as low as the real thing. Call it a gangland fairy tale.

Director-choreographer Sha Newman, who staged a sterling “West Side Story” for Fullerton Civic Light Opera last season, is at the helm for this FCLO revival.

While her “West Side Story” was taut and full of energy, this outing is not. Her tempos are too soft, and her rhythms in the dialogue scenes are sometimes askew. Her choreography does have muscle and invention.

However, the only time the production jumps for joy is when the staging is in the hands of musical director Lee Kreter. Kreter knows the Broadway pit-band feel and sound and is expert at coaxing it from his orchestra. It’s a joy to listen to.

The other flaw is the performance of Stephen Zinnato as Sky Masterson, the master gambler who bets that he can take Salvation Army woman Sarah Brown to dinner--in Havana.

Zinnato sings the blazes out of his songs, uptempo items such as “Luck Be a Lady,” and he has a masterly touch with the ballads, particularly “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” and its haunting prelude, “My Time of Day.”

The problem is the attempt by Zinnato (and Newman) to make Masterson into something he isn’t. Zinnato is charming, suave and classy. Masterson isn’t; he’s one of the boys, sharp and as sneaky as Nathan Detroit. (Robert Alda, in the original New York production, proved the point as the louse you loved to hate.) Here, one expects Zinnato to appear suddenly in white tie and tails, martini in hand, spouting Noel Coward dialogue.

Most of the other cast members are more on target. Mardi Robins is a wonderful Sarah Brown and a fine match vocally for Zinnato. Her slightly starchy niceness beautifully sets up the surprise of Sarah’s attraction to Masterson.

As Detroit, Randy Gianetti is excellent, superbly bumbling both as a hood and as the reluctant fiance of the Hot Box’s Miss Adelaide. Richard Blake is top-notch as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, and Angelo Collado is wonderful as Benny Southstreet, Johnson’s sidekick.

Bob May’s Arvide Abernathy, Sarah’s wise grandfather, is gentle and practical and sings “More I Cannot Wish You” affectingly. Diane Vincent is good as Adelaide but doesn’t go beyond imitating every other Adelaide.

It’s a good company in a tepid production, and their Runyanese accents are correct, except for Zinnato’s. He sounds like a diction coach.

* “Guys and Dolls,” Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave. Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Also Oct. 24 only at only, 7 p.m. Ends Nov. 3. $14-$30. (714) 879-1732. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Stephen Zinnato: Sky Masterson

Mardi Robins: Sarah Brown

Randy Gianetti: Nathan Detroit

Diane Vincent: Miss Adelaide

Richard Blake: Nicely-Nicely Johnson

Angelo Collado: Benny Southstreet

Bob May: Arvide Abernathy

A Fullerton Civic Light Opera production of the Frank Loesser musical. Produced by Griff and Jan Duncan. Directed by Sha Newman. Musical direction: Lee Kreter. Scenic design: Ed Gallagher. Lighting design: Steven Pliska. Costume coordination: Ambra King Wakefield. Production stage manager: Donna R. Parsons.