A bushel and a peck of musical enjoyment

“Guys and Dolls” is recognized as one of the best American musicals, partly because of its broad mixture of comedy, which ranges from slapstick leaps and tumbles to witty comments. It’s also famous for its music, which includes “A Bushel and a Peck” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” South Mecklenburg High School reminded me why the music acquired its fame.

Director Bonnie Hall not only cast powerful singers in the majority of the leading roles but collaborated with music director Daniel Wynkoop to up the ante.

Most high school musicals I attended prior to “Guys and Dolls” used music tracks to back up singers or piano accompaniment by adults. Not so at South Mecklenburg. Wynkoop and teachers Ed Harper (alto and soprano sax) and Leigh Marsh (violin) headed a small student orchestra. Right from the get-go, that orchestra proved its worth.

The students played with enough exuberance to match the score, which defies genre classification. Sometimes it reminded me of the half-sing, half-talk of Rex Harrison in “My Fair Lady.” At other times, it was reminiscent of classically inspired romantic tunes, such as “Feed the Birds” from “Mary Poppins.” It covered popular historical styles from big band to jazz and even included hints of gospel. While the orchestra played with high energy, it didn’t overwhelm or upstage the actors.

“Guys and Dolls” tells the story of four people in New York City in the 1940s. Crapshooter Nathan Detroit and his fiancée of fourteen years, Miss Adelaide, struggle with one another; Nathan tries to seek enjoyment in gambling, and Adelaide longs to say “I do” at the altar. Another gambler, Sky Masterson, accepts a bet that requires him to convince a conservative member of the Save-a-Soul Mission, Sarah Brown, to accompany him to Cuba or lose a thousand dollars. Sky falls in love with Sarah and yearns to earn her affections.

The play appeals to lovers of romance, but the director’s decision to place music as the focal point shows the audience a deeper side to the seemingly simple story. While the dialogue was far from philosophic, the music delivered a subtle historical perspective on the changing dynamics between men and women in society...or, if you would, the roles of guys and dolls.

In “A Bushel and a Peck” and “Take Back Your Mink,” Adelaide (given a squeaky New York accent and a diva’s personality by giggle-inducing Elora Tickle) showed how it was common in the twentieth century for men to objectify women. Adelaide and her band of showgirls were quasi-prophetic portrayals of modern pop culture, which continues to sexualize women today.

“Guys and Dolls” also mentioned the rising tide of feminism and the idea (relatively new at the time) that women might control men. Tickle and Mary Kathryn Evans (who played Sarah Brown with restraint and maturity) sang a duet about their domination of future husbands in “Marry the Man Today.”

“I’ll Know” provided a healthier aspect of gender roles and romance. Sarah confesses to Sky (portrayed with downplayed suavity by Jaleel Cummings) that she wants to marry for love rather than material reasons, and she is not ashamed to dream of the type of man her future husband will be. Evans’ operatic range brought out her best acting and natural stage vigor, which unfortunately did not come across as strongly during her speaking parts.

Both Cummings and Ahmad Ayube as Nathan had upswings and downswings. Ayube handled understated humor well; his acting helped temper the wild energy of the play, but he sometimes distanced himself too much from the conflict. Like Evans, Cummings fared better when he sang than when he spoke, and they did not have enough chemistry to make Sky’s and Sarah’s relationship believable. However, his singing and dancing in “Luck Be a Lady” was a high point.

Seeing “Guys and Dolls” as performed by South Mecklenburg was similar to being presented with a helium balloon at a birthday party. It was pretty and airy but, when popped, made a bang loud enough to bring the entire audience to its feet.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 3:45 PM with the headline "A bushel and a peck of musical enjoyment."