Guys and Dolls shine in Operatic Society show

Starting off as a gentle breeze, switching to a gale force wind and finishing a hurricane.
And no, I’m not refering to a wet and windy March - but none other than Hawick Amateur Operatic Society’s production of Guys and Dolls, which has been sweeping audiences off their feet at the Town Hall every night this week.
Make no mistake about it, this forever popular Frank Loesser musical has been a raging success with Teries and Borderers alike.
The Hawick company has seen to this with a first class production in which every Guy and Doll who set foot on the stage shine in their own right.
Set in Broadway during the 1930s, the story-line revolves around a gambling game and producer Jean Wintrope has certainly come up with a winner in this show.
In one of the leading rolls as high rolling gambler, Sky Masterson, Des devine is a real trump card. Des gives a performance which matches the sharp, smooth tailored-made suits his character wears. He is indeed a real star turn.
Apart from acting with great style and flair he hits the high spots as well with numbers such as ‘My Time of Day’ and ‘Luck Be a Lady’.
There were, however many other excellent performances in the pack throughout the show.
Playing Salvation Army girl Sarah Brown (who falls in love with and ends up with Sky Masterson) Sasha Cound is at her very best.
Getting matters just right as the young, shy Salvationist, Sasha also emerged with flying colours with her rendering of ‘I’ll Know’ and ‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’ along with her beloved ‘Sky’ plus her excellent performing of ‘If I Were a Bell’ and ‘Marry the Man Today’.
As night club singer Miss Adelaide, Dot Goldie turns out to be a class act. So much so that she brightens up the stage on her every appearance. With a spot on American accent, she fill the hall with laughter with some well delivered humorous lines as the dizzy entertainer and is a delight in the process. Dot’s talents didn’t stop here though as she conjured up a lot of enjoyment as well in her singing of ‘ A Bushel and a Peck’, Adelaide’s Lament’ and ‘Take Back your Mink’, ‘Sue Me’ and ‘Marry the Man Today’.
Frank Barker is also top notch as gangster Nathan Detroit. Making full use of the witty and funny dialogue which falls his way, Frank really pulls out the stops and puts a lot into his role. And the audience gets the full benifit of this.
Frank’s gangster buddies, Craig McCredie (Benny Southstreet), Mike Cound (Harry The Horse), Derek Calder ( Nicely Nicely Johnson), Jim Arbon (Big Jule), Stuart Gibson (Society Max), Michael Aitken (Brandy Bottle Bates), Ian Scott (Liver Lips Louie), Steve Brown (Rusty Charlie), Graham Gordon (Scranton Slim) and Steve Treacy (Angie the Ox) are all well to the fore as loveable villians.
The latter gang are indeed involved in something of a showstopper with the extremely catchy and quite riveting number ‘Luck Be a Lady’ which is a real treat.
Another song which makes a big impact is ‘More I Cannot Wish You’ which is put over in sterling style by George Storie as Salvation Army man Arvide Abernathy.
George in his latter role, Rita Storie(General Matilda B. Cartwright), Moria Boyd (Agatha), Alison Seeley (Priscilla) and Susan Paterson (Martha) are all convincing as Salvation Army members, while Derek Inglis comes across well as hard boiled policeman Lieutenant Brannigan.
Thanks to the work of choreographer Rhona Cleland and dance mistress Anne Clark, the dance routines are a huge feature of the production as well.
Dancers, Pamela Casson, Anne Clark, Ruth Dorwood, Lesley Fraser, Frances Goldie, Lynsey McCredie, Linda Ness, Gillian Patterson, Shelagh Renwick, Maureen Slorance, Tanya Slorance and Leanne Stormont all exceed in what they do.
Featuring night club dancers the Hot Box Girl’s numbers ‘A Bushel and a Peck’ and ‘Take Back Your Mink’ in particular are very colourful and of a high standard.
Throw in some really fine chorus work plus the craft of musical director Jim Latham and Rehearsal pianist David Mackay and you come up with a real tip top show in ‘Guys and Dolls’.

 John Slorance of The Hawick News