Guys & Dolls
20 November 2024
Bridge Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
As it is definitely closing on 4 January, I had to fit in a quick trip to Guys & Dolls at the Bridge Theatre before it disappears. I’ve loved all the promenade performances I’ve seen at this venue, so opted for the standing/immersive tickets again.
Upon entering the standing area, we are transported to the streets of Manhattan, complete with a hot dog cart, pretzel seller, street vendors selling hats and sunglasses, programs and drinks, and of course Mindy’s Restaurant. With a variety of neon signs hanging from the ceiling, traffic lights and glowing street markings on the ground, it is an immersive environment that is wholly engrossing. We grabbed a couple of pretzels and sat at a table at Mindy’s to rest before spending an entire performance standing and walking around the action.
The stage in the immersive standing area is modular, raising and lowering from the ground in various configurations, with ushers dressed as NYC PD officers swiftly manoeuvring the crowds around the space to facilitate smooth and safe operation of the rising and lowering stages. Due to this constantly moving live experience, there is no settling into one spot to watch the entire show, instead you move with the action, fully immersed in the story and always in motion. I find this type of promenade performance much gentler on the body than, say, an entire show standing at the Globe, where movement is minimal and the physical stress of standing in place for long periods of time is much more taxing.
The story of the musical is of course quite outdated and somewhat traditional in its gender roles and portrayal of relationships, but if you can leave that part of critical thinking behind and just get engrossed in the joyful, entertaining swing of things, it’s a fantastic production of Guys & Dolls, wonderfully dynamic and cheeky, with the best rendition of Sit Down, You’re Rocking The Boat I have seen to date! Due to the immersive nature, there are plenty of chances to dance and cheer along, another fantastic promenade production at the Bridge!
