Guys and Dolls is continuing its season at the Bathurst Entertainment Centre until Sunday.

As in life, we know that in the end the dolls will get their guys but the story engages us and we never tire of the drama and the speech. What accents, what dancing and what sounds.

That bunch of shifty characters played by Peter McGrath, Josh Meyers, Terry McPhillamy and Greg Tucker would have no problems should they decide on a mid-life change of careers, although I suspect Mick Rossit and James Brennan are just too delightfully wicked to fit in with the underbelly of Bathurst. And Lieutenant Brannigan, played by William Amer, would stand no chance messing with these guys.

Wane Howard is inspired in his portrayal of Nathan Detroit (echoes of an earlier Flash Harry) and Marty Ryan excels with that wonderful singing. The entire chorus of male singers is brilliantly well balanced and their harmonies are so good the audience will just want to join in.

The dolls are highlights of the show, starting with the lovely Lisa Lynch playing Miss Adelaide in her “buttons and bows” as she bumps and grinds like a well-seasoned trouper and Olivia Fisher as the young and naive Lieutenant Sarah Brown who uses her crystal clear soprano to portray both pathos and pain.

The other members of the Army Band, tambourines at the ready, are Christine Porter, Trish Denmead and Amy Dalton, with Liam Auhl on cymbals and John Williams all safely tucked under the paternal wing of Trevor Toole playing Grandfather Arvide Abernathy.

As we have come to expect over the years, the choreography by Leanne Buttsworth is again outstanding and the dancing very ably performed by the talented Hot Box Dancers, Dominica Condon, Emily Hughes, Andrea Wills, Eliza Breach, Jena Shaw and Christina Bryant along with Carole Eastment and Toni Thompson adding their expertise to the Tango.

The scenery, sound and lighting added to the overall enjoyment and the scenery and staging was top notch.

In the pit, we have the Wonder Boy of Bathurst, Roland Auguszczak, leading what is a very well-balanced group of talented and professional players producing solid, consistent and complete tonal support to the excellent performers on stage.

I was exhausted at the end of the show from all my dancing and singing but I’d had a whole lot of fun. Highly recommended.

Guys and Dolls is playing at BMEC for the remainder of the week, with the final performance on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

– Kate Hanlon has been performing since she was very, very young and has been involved in most aspects of theatre, with particular emphasis on direction, costuming and set design