Fifty-four years ago, I was a theatre major at Western Illinois University in Macomb. The term I was enrolled in theatre tech, the musical production was Guys and Dolls for which I ran the follow spot, so you can imagine what a treat it was when I found out that The Countryside Community Theatre chose to kick off its 2026 season with this iconic production.
Guys and Dolls is a classic musical comedy based on Damon Runyon’s stories about gamblers and showgirls in mythical 1940s New York. It follows the intertwined love stories of high-roller Sky Masterson and missionary Sarah Brown, and craps game organizer Nathan Detroit and his long-suffering fianceé, Miss Adelaide. It premiered on Broadway in 1950, garnering a Tony Award for Best Musical and spawned a film adaption in 1955 starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, and Frank Sinatra.
Some of the iconic songs from this show include “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Luck Be a Lady,” and “A Bushel and a Peck” which I sang to my son as an infant and to every one of my five foster grandkids. I love these classic musicals because their music and lyrics stick to you like Velcro.
Taking on the roles of Sky Masterson, Sarah Brown, Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide are Tommy Ratkiewicz, Emily Martyka, Chase Crull and Courtney Cooper, respectively. Ratkiewicz, a Moline High School grad has professional credits on his resumé having appeared in 5 episodes of Chicago Fire on NBC; his high energy, polished performance is a dynamic testament to his professional success. Martyka’s soprano soars and Crull captures Nathan Detroit adroitly managing to side-step marriage despite a 14-year engagement to Adelaide. Cooper really stands out as she absolutely nails Miss Adelaide in both song and characterization.
Director Eric Field has chosen projection of New York scenes onto the scrim in lieu of building an elaborate set, supplementing that with set pieces on rolling carts and it works well. I have to say I’ve seen better costuming at CCT but I give them a huge round of applause for addressing tattoos on some of the actors by covering them with flesh-colored shirts under their costumes. Only because I was in the front row, I could both see the shirts where they peeked out of sleeves and that the tats weren’t completely hidden.
Those of you who have heard my reviews know that I’m a bit on the nit-picky side and there was one thing I would have done differently. Sarah is described as a missionary, ala Salvation Army. Martyka has a long, lush head of curly hair. I would envision the uptight Sarah having her hair in a conservative bun so that when Sky Masterson lures her to accompany him to Cuba she could literally “let her hair down” as she is exposed to…shall we say the “finer things” in life.
All in all this was a delightful trip down memory lane for me and you will have a bushel and a peck of a good time.
Guys and Dolls performances by The Countryside Community Theatre continue at North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium located at 200 South First Street in Eldridge, Thursday through Saturday, July 9 through 11 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 12 at 2:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.