Guys and Dolls, Gods and Goddesses

I love the theater.

Two of WCU's productions this year have taught me a better appreciation of musicals. In the fall semester it was Lucky Stiff. Tonight, I watched Guys and Dolls performed by our students in the Fine and Performing Arts Center. The play is directed by Terrence Mann, so the school spent more money on the production than normal for things such as specially ordered set items.

It was worth it. I must admit to you that I am biased when it comes to writing about our theater department. I am acquainted with many of the cast, and it moves something inside my chest and throat to see them do well on stage. They eat in Dodson cafeteria just one or two tables over from me. They are in the library with me and at the gym where I work out. They are ordinary people for the most part-- kids, some of them. But on stage in prime time when the lights go down and the orchestra tunes up to a sold out crowd, they create a magnificent story. They Create. These students of Western who normally walk around in jeans and sandals become Gods and Goddesses.

So please indulge me while I talk about how great they are...

First the people I know and with whom I have spoken:

Tivis Womack. The girl who likes to ride skateboards and bicycles across campus. I've nicknamed her "Wheels." This was her first major theater production, and she was outstanding in a wide range of dancing roles from a "Hot Box Girl," to a dancer in Havana, to escorting an airplane across the stage and "over" New York, Cullowhee (which drew a laugh from the audience) and Miami. In real life, Tivis is quiet and unique and has one of the best personalities I have ever come across in a girl. On stage, her beauty shines through in glowing facial expressions. She will deserve larger and larger roles as she matures at Western.

Gregory Kennedy as "Nicely-Nicely Johnson." I wrote about him for his great performance in Lucky Stiff. In Guys and Dolls, he nails it again. On campus, Greg is an extrovert whose personality busts at the seams at times. On stage, his singing voice booms through the auditorium, and his demeanor and body language elicit laughter from the audience more easily than any other actor. He is excellent in over-the-top comedic roles.

Benny Enfinger as "Benny Southstreet." Benny is also someone I have complimented for his role in Lucky Stiff. He plays a sidekick to Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. He and Greg use the audience well, and there was one exchange that amazed me with how rapidly they fired off their lines without becoming tongue twisted.

Abby Gonzalez is also growing in her roles. She was wonderful as a dancer in this play, and I really noticed her dancing during the Havana scene. She has previously been in Stop Kiss, a play directed by student Sarah Lipham (who was also a good dancer in Guys and Dolls). Abby almost always has a smile on her face when she is walking on campus. I was happy to see her face light up when I told her of the nice job she did in Stop Kiss. I hope she continues to enjoy the WCU theater department and land larger parts.

Now for the students I've seen but to whom I've not really spoken:

The leading actors for the play were outstanding: Anthony Giordano is tremendous as "Nathan Detroit." Anthony also starred as the title character in The Nerd last fall, and he is someone whom I really enjoy watching. He and Nathaniel Mason ("Sky Masterson") are the two most obvious choices for leading men that I have seen this year. Both command the stage when their roles require it, and Anthony's nuances particularly kept my attention in this show.

Christy Waymouth ("Sarah Brown") has a great singing voice. She also had a large role in Lucky Stiff, and probably does the most work on stage in this production of anyone. In the Havana scene, she has to dance and run around and eventually be "fireman carried" off the stage, only to appear again moments later to perform a solo as she slowly walks around the narrow rim of a shrubbery container. Tonight, it actually looked like she got the wind knocked out of her when she was picked up by an actor, and I was impressed that she recovered so quickly to sing the solo.

Dayna Damron ("Mimi" and a "Hot Box Girl," among other roles) held my attention with her poise, walk, singing and dancing. She is a beautiful woman who lit up the stage with a large role in Lucky Stiff. I believe she has the potential to go far in acting if she so desires. She is a photogenic person who has the ability to look very different in different roles. I have seen her a number of times on campus, but I did not realize this was the woman from Lucky Stiff until just recently.

And Bethany Rowe as "Miss Adelaide." Bethany had a small part in Lucky Stiff, but in many ways she carried the show tonight. Bethany can sing and act with a great sense of timing. I could tell she really relished her role and was having fun on stage. There was a tiny blooper tonight when her seat wobbled and she almost fell over in the middle of singing a song. She laughed and half-whispered the next line, and the audience laughed with her. It was a great reaction from her that fit in well with her character. I really do not know Bethany at all. I'm not sure that I've ever seen her on campus. Her talent "wowed" me tonight, though, and I would certainly pay money to watch her act again.

Whew...My apologies to those actors I have not mentioned. The cast is large, but there were no weaknesses in the lot. The show was one of the hi-lights of my semester, and I thank everyone in the production for their hard work.

Tonight was the Friday showing. I actually have two tickets to Saturday as well. I look forward to seeing the Gods and Goddesses of Western Carolina University create Guys and Dolls yet again.

Until Next Time,

Nathan Marshburn