As the opening notes of “Runyonland” fill the auditorium of Muscatine High School, actors take their place behind the curtain of the stage. This is the beginning of Guys & Dolls, Muskie Drama’s spring production and a famous Broadway fable.
“Guys & Dolls is about an awkward love between Sky Masterson [a known gambler] and Sarah Brown [a mission girl],” MHS sophomore Gabriella Hunter says of the musical. Hunter, a member of the Mission Corps, is often present when Sky and Sarah cross paths, but there’s more to it: “They are united by Sky’s fellow gambler, Nathan Detroit, who makes a thousand-dollar bet with Sky to rent a place for his crap game. There’s also a subplot of Nathan and Adelaide [a cabaret dancer] involving their engagement and marriage.”
Freshman Hannah Taylor, a Hot Box dancer, has enjoyed expanding the show with her castmates. “I say I love any musical I’m in, but Guys & Dolls is such a fun 1950s piece with great music and themes! Seeing everyone develop their characters and mannerisms as soon as they set foot in the auditorium has been incredible.”
Throughout their rehearsals, the cast and crew have not only reached for greater heights with Guys & Dolls, but many have also grown closer to their friends, both new and old.
“This year, my dynamic with the cast has changed a lot from my previous experiences in the drama department,” notes junior Ethan Viner, who is Nicely-Nicely Johnson, a gambler. “Today, I feel like I can be more of a role model, when just a year ago, I was looking up to the upperclassmen. I feel a lot closer with the people in the cast; I’ve established a good relationship with everyone, compared to the select few I was close with during my freshman and sophomore years.”
The feeling extends to the stage, where many people act and improvise with their friends. At times, it can bring a new, more natural life to a scene, especially if it’s got to be comedic.
Senior Mya McFate, a featured dancer from the Hot Box and Havana, says, “Kyndle Allen [MHS senior] is my dance partner for Havana, and he makes it so fun because we are already good friends. It’s funny to dance with him like we’re on a date, especially at the end when we have to act ‘drunk’.”
But sometimes it isn’t just being on stage that brings the cast together – backstage antics have also played a role in keeping people connected, even if they can’t exactly talk. Talking is frowned upon close to the stage, especially when a scene is going on, but the actors always find a way to have fun while waiting.
“Some of my favorite memories have been the things the audience doesn’t see,” recalls senior Kara Schlawin, who is a Hot Box dancer. “Making funny faces at each other, dancing, and generally messing around in the wings brings us together, even if we’re across the entire auditorium.”
With good times in mind and their eyes forward, the cast is prepared to put on some stellar shows this weekend; catch one of their shows, and it’s sure to be a blast. That’s a bet Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit are willing to take!
Guys & Dolls will run from April 23-25 at varying times. Tickets can be purchased at Booktix. For more information, visit Muskie Drama. See you there!
