Why audiences are going to love the BMOS production of Guys and Dolls at the Alexandra Theatre

Since premiering in the 1950s, Guys and Dolls has been a staple on Broadway. The classic musical comedy, set in New York City in the mid-20th century, follows the story of gambler Nathan Detroit and his colorful group of friends.

BMOS Musical Theatre Company will be putting on their own production of Guys and Dolls this month at the Alexandra Theatre, from Tuesday 28 June to Saturday July 2, and we sat down with one of the stars, Patrick Pryce, to learn more about the show and his experience with the company.

Pryce, who plays Nathan Detroit, says Guys and Dolls is the perfect musical for anyone who loves classic Broadway. “It features a number of characters, but in principle, I play Nathan Detroit, who is a bit of a wild boy gambler who sets up craps games, which is a dice game for dodgy characters and gangsters around New York, but he has to hold it in different place all the time, because the police are onto him,” he says.

Pryce has been with BMOS for over a decade, and says that being a part of the company is like being part of a family. “BMOS is the oldest musical theatre company in Birmingham. And we think it’s the 10th oldest in the country. It’s comprised of an amateur cast who have all got day jobs.

“So I’ve got an online flower business called Nelly Kelly,” he says. “But preparing for the role, one of the first things you do is look at the script and try to get an understanding of the character and what his motivations are.

“He’s sort of a stressed out sort of a guy that is always living from day to day. The character is a sort of New York Jewish gangster - the kind you might see in a movie. I look at different parts of the script and then find things in the script and say, well, how would a character that I’ve seen in another show play that - and in between all those little ingredients come together to make my character.

“And then I work with a director who gives me guidance on how he wants the show played, how he wants the part played. And also I have to align with the fact the way the other principals play their roles and sort of interact and there’s a bit of give and take on that as well.”

So what can audiences expect from BMOS’s production of Guys and Dolls? “It’s an absolutely hilarious show from start to finish with so many laughs throughout,” says Pryce.

“And of course, it features some of the most iconic songs in musical theatre history, such as ‘Sit down you’re rocking the boat’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Luck be a lady’, ‘If I were about’. I think anyone who loves Broadway musicals will absolutely adore Guys and Dolls.”

Guys and Dolls is on at the Alexandra Theatre from the 28th June-2nd July. And you can get your tickets at: ATGtickets.com

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