Guys & Dolls at CV Rep-Mann On The Aisle Review

If you love classic musicals, Coachella Valley Rep’s Guys and Dolls is absolutely worth your time. Set in 1930s New York, it’s that wonderful world where gamblers are chasing lucky dice rolls and missionaries are chasing the gamblers, all wrapped up in romance and Runyon-style wisecracks. And this cast? Not a weak link anywhere.

Carter Michael brings serious charm (and a silky smooth voice) to Sky Masterson, while Allsun O’Malley’s Sarah Brown delivers powerhouse vocals — their duet “I’ll Know” is genuinely beautiful. Matthew Schatz and Jane Papageorge are terrific as Nathan Detroit and Adelaide. Papageorge gives us a more grounded, real Adelaide — funny without going over the top — and it works beautifully, especially in “Sue Me.” Anthony Arpino nearly walks off with the whole show as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, blowing the roof off with “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”

The dancing is sharp and energetic, especially the Havana sequence and the crapshooters’ number, thanks to choreographer Karen Sieber. Director Adam Karsten keeps things moving while letting characters breathe. I wasn’t totally sold on the muted set and costume palette — it felt like the actors blended in a bit — but honestly, the performances more than make up for it.

Add in the stadium seating and ridiculously comfortable chairs at CVRep (seriously, no bad seat in the house), and this one’s a winning bet.