It is a rollicking musical about good-hearted New York gangsters -- brought to you in English by a cast hailing from around the globe. The Broadway classic, Guys and Dolls, is the latest from Beijing Playhouse, the city's first English-language community theater troupe. The play opens on September 7.
"I think Beijing audiences will love this show," said director Chris Verrill. "We've got singing, dancing, and lighthearted fun for the whole family. We simply want to entertain people."
Guys and Dolls is a love story centered on some colorful gamblers in New York City. It first played on Broadway at the 46th Street Theater in 1950, and has since won, Grammy, and Golden Globe Awards.
A total of 30 singers, dancers and actors - along with 70 crew - bring the Beijing version to life. The cast come from USA, UK, China, Philippines, Peru, Italy, Bangladesh, Australia, Liberia, Namibia, Austria, South Korea, Angola, Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and more. Rehearsals started in June.
Mark Fox, joining the cast as Nathan Detroit, most recently played the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Anna Grace plays nightclub singer and fiance Miss Adelaide, and has previously appeared in the musicals Oklahoma and South Pacific. Adam Harr is the high rolling gambler Sky Masterson, his third time performing Guys and Dolls.
"The cast and crew of Guys and Dolls are a mixture of theater veterans with 20 to 40 years of experience working alongside actors who are making their stage debut," said Verrill, who believes his talented multi-national cast make this a production of which Guys and Dolls author Damon Runyon would be proud.
Verrill is an enthusiastic drama lover and the original producer and co-host of China Drive on China Radio International. He launched Beijing Playhouse 2 years ago.
"The semi-professional theater business model, sustained by ticket sales and retaining cast and crew mostly on a part-time or volunteer basis, is a new critter here," said the San Francisco native, who has long dreamed of running his own company.
The actors all have day jobs, some in schools or corporations, some as translators, joining the troupe by night to have fun. And the mixture of veterans and newcomers is what makes the company magical.
Verrill's style is to "concentrate on the audience".
"While I am directing, I always remember that the ultimate goal is to have an audience come to the show, enjoy it, smile, tap their toes to the music, have a great time, and tell their friends," he said.
"I don't worry about trying to be too meaningful. After all it is just entertainment."
He says Beijing's economic boom is reflected in the growing interest and participation in arts and culture.
"Our dream is to entertain audiences in China for years and years to come. We're off to a good start, but we've got a long way to go," said Verrill.
"I'll stay in Beijing for a long time - long enough to firmly establish the theater as a great cultural resource in an amazing country."
Performances are in English with Chinese subtitles.
250 yuan. 7:30pm (Fri-Sat) and 2pm (Sun), until Sep 30. Canadian International School theater, 38 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, 1 kilometer east of Kempinksi Hotel. 139-1005-2384.
(China Daily 08/23/2007 page16)
