The lights dim as a voice dripping with a thick New York City accent comes alive over the speakers, informing the audience to silence their phones unless they want Big Juley to take care of it for them. Quite the threat, especially if you’ve seen this craps game gambler.

The audience only laughs, however, as they put their phones away, and the lights come up on New York City. The music soars, and the stage comes to life with a variety of characters dashing around the streets. It’s the beginning of Clovis North Bronco Drama’s production of Guys and Dolls, and is it something fantastic.

The opening number finishes, and in struts Sammy Linkowski, sporting a mustache and a strong stage presence. Linkowski plays Nathan Detroit, a man who runs a moving craps game in the city. He’s also been engaged to Adelaide (Grace Kane) for many years. Adelaide does not approve of Detroit’s gambling problem, and wishes he would drop it and commit to marry her already.

Detroit, in desperate need for a place to run his craps game and keep it hidden from Adelaide, makes a bet with fellow gambler Skye Masterson (Aaron Lowe) that he can’t make a date with local Mission general Sarah Brown (Zoe Johnson). and take her to Havana before the night is up. The rest of the musical follows the antics of the two as Sky tries to make a seemingly impossible date and Nathan tries to keep everyone happy with, making a mad dash around the city.

Guys and Dolls is comprised of phenomenal actors, particularly impressive considering some have done drama all their life, while for others, even the leads, never ventured into drama before this year. Their chemistry and joy is contagious. The whole cast shines, from their singing to well executed tap dancing. Even the use of props, from airplanes to beachballs, stand out or garner an appropriate laugh. The whole production is top notch.

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Linkowski is animated and hilarious. When he steps on stage, he stops being Sammy Linkowski. He is 100% Nathan Detroit, and a riot to watch. He brings incredible energy and experience to the stage. Similarly, Kane is an amazing Adelaide, especially considering this show being her debut performance. She’s equally committed and incredibly believable. Lowe nails the smooth, charming type and Johnson plays her characters’ growth and depth perfectly. In fact, you could pick any of the kids on stage and find countless things to give praise to. They all fit and play their part to a tee.

Tap dancing in particular shines bright, with two whole dance numbers set in an underground sewer. The dance is well choreographed, full of rhythm and mesmerizing. It’s a challenge to watch it without a big grin across your face.

Once or twice an actor caught themselves stumbling over a line, but this was brief and rare, and they recovered seamlessly. Some lines were dodgy, but this was slight and they recovered quickly. For their first performance, and for ANY performance, the presentation is fantastic. 

Perhaps the one lacking thing is the lack of live music– all of it was prerecorded tracks, but the quality is still great and the singers’ timing is on par.

The show is a pleasure and incredibly impressive. The talent, the sets, the props, crew– all of it is a joy. Guys and Dolls is a perfect night out for teens and older who want some laughs, dazzling talent, and classic broadway romance. It’s even worth it to see more than once, just to see how the variations in how the cast presents it. One of the most exciting aspects of theatre is the live energy.

The musical’s remaining performances are Feb. 4-6th at the Mercedes Edwards Theatre. For more information, visit broncodrama.com. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office the night of the performance.

For more theatre reviews, check out 42nd street performance full of energy, bravado.

This writer can be reached vis Twitter @ejLadd or via email, [email protected].