Is there a more iconic musical than “Guys and Dolls?” Probably not. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to do well and my guests for this episode are a testament to how to make a classic musical really sing.
This is a show that can be dominated by its many engaging male characters, so I wanted to push aside the Guys for just a bit and talk to the Dolls. “Guys and Dolls” is never supposed to be realistic but there’s a danger in making it too broad for an audience to care about the characters. Adelaide has the potential to be portrayed as a caricature of female ditziness and Sarah Brown can come off as a one-note prude. But in a 2008 production of “Guys and Dolls” that enthralled Richmond audiences, Rachel Abrams and Rita Neidich gave those two character heart, soul and sass.
Rachel and Rita offer their remembrances about that particular production but also dig into some of the psychology of “Guys and Dolls” and how that translates to today. What’s it like being a woman in a male-dominated show? Their answers may surprise you.
As always, please check out ChasingPhantom.net for more information on "Guys and Dolls" as well as relevant video clips. And follow Rita Neidich on Instagram or her website to see if she might be performing somewhere near you!
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