"GUYS AND DOLLS" IS A SURE BET FOR FUN

PHOTOS BY DIANE SOBOLEWSKI OF NANCY ANDERSON AS MISS ADELAIDE (ABOVE) AND MANNA NICHOLS AS MISS SARAH OF THE SAVE-A -SOUL MISSION (BELOW)

Lots of things in life are a gamble, but not the current Lucky Lady production of "Guys and Dolls" rolling the dice in a perfect 7 to 11 combination until Saturday, June 20.  The odds are definitely stacked in your favor as the saints try to win over and convert the sinners.  The Frank Loesser musical, with book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, that has been delighting millions for over six decades, will be staking a claim for entertainment and joy at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam.

Get ready to love this show a bushel and a peck, thanks to the sympathetic entreaties of Miss Adelaide, an adorable Nancy Anderson, who has been waiting patiently for her fiance Nathan Detroit,  Nathan is a fast talking, slippery commitment adverse Mark Price, who has been dragging his heels for fourteen years instead of making their relationship legitimate.  The fact that Miss Adelaide abhors gambling and Nathan can't wait to make a quick buck by running crap games make the chances of his being honorable about 100 to 1.

In order to finance his latest illegal endeavor, Nathan decides to con the biggest bettor of them all, the suave Tony Roach as Sky Masterson, who is ready to wager on practically anything.  Nathan finds a sure bet, that Sky can't get the pious and pure head of the Save-a-Soul Mission, the pert Manna Nichols as Miss Sarah Brown, to fly with him to Havana, Cuba.

The quick thinking Sky accomplishes the impossible and trades his marker for one dozen genuine sinners in exchange for a lunch date with Sarah, southeast of the border.  Against all odds the two find love and salvation while Nathan and his cronies Rusty (Jordan Grubb), Nicely-Nicely (Scott Cote), Benny (Noah Plomgren), Harry the Horse (Carlos Lopez), Angie the Ox (Paul Aguirre) and Big Julie (Jerry Gallagher) are busy running around New York City hunting down the elusive and ever changing location of the crap game of the hour.  A determined Lt. Brannigan (David Sitler) is always a step or two behind in trying to catch them in the act.

Glorious Frank Loesser tunes propel this Damon Runyon inspired story, like Adelaide's perpetual cold, "Adelaide's Lament," caused by Nathan's irresponsibility, Sarah's grandfather Arvide's (John Jellison) tender love advice in "More I Cannot Wish You," Nicely-Nicely's fervent plea "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and Sky's determined prayer "Luck Be a Lady," among many others.  Don Stephenson directs  this colorful cast of characters in a high powered production that's a sure crowd pleaser.

For tickets ($78.50-83.50), call Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam on the Connecticut River at 860-873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org.Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m and 6:30 p.m., with an additional performance at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Come place your winning wager on a guaranteed bet!