Perhaps one of the best musical shows to have ever been devised with a gambling theme in mind, Guys and Dolls has been well-received across global stages and in movie theaters.
It first made its debut in 1950 on New York’s Broadway, before thousands of revivals of the show were launched nationwide and internationally, making appearances in locations across California, Las Vegas and London. It wasn’t just a one-time thing for many of these locations, either, as many of them had seen the show be revived and be given another run.
Furthermore, a movie was created based on the musical (which was initially based on a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows) and released in 1955. It featured Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, and Vivian Blaine in leading roles.
Full of plenty of drama
While it may be set in a day and age that was well ahead of being able to play online casino games and experience all of the entertainment that can be had when playing these games, Guys and Dolls is a show that does highlight the risks that are taken and how they can have an impact on daily lives. It also bases itself on love and redemption, bringing a captivating story that audiences have been enjoying ever since it first opened.
Act 1
The story is based in New York City and follows Nathan Detroit, who is a gambler that runs an illegal floating craps game. He is desperate to find a new location in which he can play his next craps game, but he doesn’t have the $1,000 that is required to secure a new venue.
To try and raise the money that he needs, Nathan decides to bet Sky Masterson, who is a high-rolling gambler. Instead of betting money, he decides to wager on romance and love. Nathan decides to make a bet with Sky that the latter can’t convince Sarah Brown (who is a dedicated missionary working at the Save-a-Soul Mission) to join him on a date to Havana in Cuba.
Sky decides to accept that bet and begins his pursuit of Sarah, but finds himself being rejected in the first instance. However, he doesn’t give up and promises her that he will bring twelve genuine sinners to her mission if she accepts his offer of a date. She agrees to these terms and they go on the date to Havana, where they encounter an unexpected situation: they both fall for each other.
In contrast, Nathan finds he is trying to avoid the constant pressure he is being put under by his long-term fiancée, Miss Adelaide, as he wants the duo to get married. They’ve been engaged for 14 years, but she is becoming frustrated by the lack of movement toward a wedding and is becoming increasingly more annoyed by the delays that Nathan continues to make.
Act 2
In Act 2, the story of this musical returns to New York, where romance becomes a little testy for the two individuals who unexpectedly fall for each other. Sky reveals to Sarah that he only took her out on a date because of a bet he had, but only confessed because of the feelings that he has started to have for her.
This leads to them breaking up temporarily, but Sky is determined to make sure he can win her back. By doing so, he rounds up the gamblers that he had promised and takes them to the mission, in the hope of impressing Sarah and winning her back.
Elsewhere, the story depicts Nathan’s new craps game, which goes on despite various obstacles that had to be faced. This includes interference from the police, which makes it difficult for the game to go ahead. Nonetheless, he manages to do this. At the same time, he and Miss Adelaide managed to reconcile, leading to the former to make the promise to finally marry his long-term fiancée.
Before the end of the musical, Sky and Sarah also manage to sort their issues out, and get back on good terms. The musical eventually ends with both couples on positive feet, looking forward to what the future holds for both of them.
“Guys and Dolls” has everything for everyone
Perhaps part of the success and continued revivals that the musical has had, Guys and Dolls has almost everything that an audience can want in terms of being captivated by a journey that they can truly enjoy watching.
There are various elements throughout where gambles have had to pay off for an individual, with love and faith being major parts of the story.