Theater Review: 'Guys & Dolls' by Woodland Regional High School Drama

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The Woodland Regional High School Drama Department is presenting “Guys & Dolls” for one weekend on the stage at the high school. Jillian Jackman directed the teens and also was the choreographer of the classic musical with a book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The story is based on the story and characters of Damon Runyon.

Musical director Ian Youngs ensured that the singers easily followed the musical tracks. Meghan Hatch-Geary worked with the team as dramaturg. Dance captain Abigail Diamante, a Woodland freshman, worked with the dancers. Kudos to the guys on putting forth plenty of effort in their dance numbers….it showed. The director thanks her “guys” for their dedication and commitment to learning and commends them for the growth they made throughout the rehearsal process. Jackman thanks her”dolls” for always being focused and impressing her with their work ethic and creativity.

“The cast is a representation of how musical theater can bring together students from different walks of life and how being a part of something beyond yourself can make you appreciate those around you that you never noticed before,” she writes in the program.

Evan Moore,a Woodland senior, is a delight in the role of Nathan Detroit. During his time at Woodland, he was Chris in “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Mr. Green in “Clue,” Plankton in “SpongeBob” and Peter Van Daan in “Anne Frank.” Senior Hannah Semrow is perfectly cast in the role of his perennial fiancee Mis Adelaide, with a strong singing voice, a great accent and plenty of stage presence. She was the French Narrator in “SpongeBob” and Edith Frank in “Anne Frank” and will be majoring in Marketing at SCSU next year.

Casey Mulvhill, a sophomore, has the strong soprano voice to sing the role of Sarah Brown. Senior Connor Doughney plays Sky Masterson with plenty of charm. Doughney was Thomas Callimore in “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Prof. Plum in “Clue,” Squidward in “SpongeBob,” and Otto Frank in “Anne Frank.” He will major in Computer Science next year at SCSU

Dylan Tyrrell pulls off the role of Arvide Abernathy, Sarah’s grandfather in his final show at Woodland. Last year he played Patrick Star in “SpongeBob” and Hermann Van Dann in”Anne Frank.”

Claire Cummings, a senior, pulls off the role of Benny Southstreet. Cumings played Wadsworth in “Clue,” SpongeBob himself in “SpongeBob” and Doody in “Grease.” Next year, they will be majoring in Theatre Design and Tech at UConn. Sophomore Isabella Paralta does more than “nicely” as gambler Nicely Nicely Johnson. Jamie Misuraca, a sophomore, portrays Rusty Charlie, sophomore Reese Fernandes plays Harry the Horse.

Logan Bernier, a sophomore, plays the lawman Lt. Brannigan. Senior Hannah Mudry, the production busy stage manager who was also in charge of marketing and advertising, steps up to play the role of General Matilda B. Cartwright. Mudry, who starred in the immersive “The Diary of Anne Frank,” will be majoring in Journalism at Hofstra University in the fall.

Freshman Zoe Kindt plays Martha and Ferguson, sophomore Illiana Rosenblum is Agatha, sophomore Rebecca Armstrong plays Allison and freshman Abigail Diamante portrays Mimi.

Senior Elijah Nastu wonderfully covers the roles of the Hot Box master of ceremonies and garage owner Joey Biltmore without a body mic, and covers various roles as part of the ensemble. Nastu played Perch Perkins in “SpongeBob” and Alfred Dussel in “The Diary of Anne Frank” and will be attending NVCC to major in New Media Productions.

Other named roles include Michaela Darrah ‘27 as Vernon, and Jaylen Goodall ‘25 as Society Max. Senior Jeffrey Guluzy made his Woodland debut in “Anne Frank '' and now plays Liver Lips Louie. Guluzy will major in Business/Marketing at NVCC in the fall. Senior James Schwarz appears as Brandy Bottle Bates in his Woodland debut. He will be majoring in social work at UConn in the fall.

Ryan Deptula ‘24 also makes his Woodland debut as The Greek and will major in journalism at Fordham University next year. Jacob Savoy appears as Big Jule in his Woodland debut and will be majoring in Communications at CCSU in the fall.

Cummings designed the Runyonland set that integrated a detailed drop for the city scenes and the stage curtain as the back of the mission. Sophie Lafreniere ‘ 27 and Michael Varesio ‘24 are the run crew. Varesio will major in Mechanical Engineering next year at CCSU. Fynn White ‘26 accomplished some great highlighting effects with the lighting design and Shaye Hussey ‘25 was in charge of sound.

Tickets are $25.

WRHS will present Spring Fine Arts Night, with visual arts, music and drama, on Thursday, May 16 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. The art viewing is scheduled for 5:30, with the band, choir and drama performances on the stage to begin at 6:30.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.
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