What: Review of MTOC's "Guys and Dolls "
Who: Musical Theatre Orange County
Where: Forum Theater, 4175 N. Fairmont Blvd., Yorba Linda
When: Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm & Sundays at 2pm, thru July 9 Cost: $15, $12 children 12 & under Info: (714) 637-9763, www.mtoc.org

                      As published in the Yorba Linda Star - 07/01/06

Quicktake:   'Guys and Dolls' good 'ol American summer fun for July 4 week.

Yorba Linda’s little gem of a theater comes alive again during the summer, thanks to Musical Theatre Orange County.

This relative newcomer to the musical scene is made up of veterans from Disney in particular, with Mitch Atkins as Artistic and Technical Director. Alan Palmer directs the musical, which stars young children through young adults. Crystal Barron is Musical Director and Allison Horner Choreographer.

The two lead couples are Nathan Detroit (Drew Carmona) and Miss Adelaide (Britany Atkins) and Sky Masterson (Tom Holloman) and Sarah Brown (AmberRose Dische).

Nathan and Sky are veteran gamblers, Miss Adelaide is lead dancer and singer at the Hot Box revue, and Sarah is a Lt. in the Salvation Army ranks. If Adelaide’s goal has been to make Nathan marry her during a fourteen year long engagement, the whirlwind romance between Sky and Sarah is solely based on a wager.

Rounding out the major roles are a trio of cool buddies, big Nicely-Nicely (Topher Mauerhan), with acolytes Rusty (Wester Cooley) and Benny (Andrew Cloud). Big Jule (Lewie Stier) is another inveterate gambler, and Arlene Abernathy (Jennifer Hines) is the captain of the Save-a-Soul Mission.

The casting is incredibly strong in the two female leads in particular, with Atkins a street savvy counterpart to sweet Dische with her gorgeous voice. The male cast is exceptionally strong, including in dance numbers such as The Crapshooter’s Dance.

The bevy of Hot Box beauties light up the stage with their feather boa togs and can-can routine. Mauerhan is a huggable gentle giant bear in a pink jacket. “Havanna” with Sarah and Sky provides magical Latin pizzazz.

Civic Light Opera style makes this production a sure hit for the entire family to kick off the summer season.