Sweet Science of ‘Guys and Dolls’

Theater is one big chemistry experiment, always threatening to blow up in your face.

This is never more true than when reviving material as well-known and beloved as “Guys and Dolls.” Mix the elements badly, and you’ll disappoint or outright bore your audience. Combine them correctly, however, as McCoy Rigby Entertainment does with its production at La Mirada Theatre, and you’ll end up with a potent little miracle.

Glenn Casale’s staging has much the same comic-book look and feel as Jerry Zaks’ acclaimed 1992 Broadway production, seen in Southern California on tour in 1993. The core, however, is authentically Casale’s own: His performers connect so surely and believably that every word and gesture feels true, even though the story itself is rather outsize.

The music, too, is lovely, with Frank Loesser’s hit parade--from “Fugue for Tinhorns” through “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” and “Luck Be a Lady”--given compelling vocal performances, as well as a lively orchestral outing under Dennis Castellano’s baton. As for dance, Mark Esposito’s choreography ably and stylishly captures the myriad styles called for, from sexy Latin to sizzling burlesque.

Occasionally, viewers are left wanting still more--a bit more dancing here, a bit more life to the singing there. But overall, this is about as joyous--and achingly romantic--a show as you could hope to encounter.

“Guys and Dolls” is, as you will recall, based upon a compilation of playful Damon Runyon tales about gamblers, nightclub singers and evangelists in 1920s and ‘30s New York.

One of two central couples is an organizer of craps games and his nightclub entertainer girlfriend. Fun-loving and vital, Bob Amaral’s Nathan Detroit is part Nathan Lane, part Jackie Gleason--and all fun. Ruth Gottschall’s Adelaide, meanwhile, suffers psychosomatic cold symptoms from her long-delayed marriage and sneezes so hard that her long, curly hair flips up over the back of her head, making you laugh even as you wonder how Nathan could be so stupid as to string along this intoxicating woman.

The other couple gives the story its beating heart. Perry Stephens lends high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson such sincere charm and gallantry that you feel it’s just a matter of time before he cracks through the hard shell of the mission evangelist he’s got his eye on. As the woman he pursues on a bet but soon woos in earnest, Patricia Ben Peterson’s Sarah Brown progresses convincingly from a driven, no-nonsense type to a woman giddily, radiantly in love.

Chemistry, indeed.

* “Guys and Dolls,” La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Ends June 20. $34. (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Guys and Dolls

Perry Stephens: Sky Masterson

Patricia Ben Peterson: Sarah

Bob Amaral: Nathan Detroit

Ruth Gottschall: Adelaide

A McCoy Rigby Entertainment production. Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on Damon Runyon stories. Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Directed by Glenn Casale. Musical director Dennis Castellano. Choreographer Mark Esposito. Lights Martin Aronstein. Stage manager Bodie Newcomb.