In Eckleburg's Eyes - 4/24/2008

I spent Wednesday evening with my family, going out to eat and viewing a play.

My parents and I ate at the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. The franchise is in poor shape, reporting on April 2 that their third-quarter income was less than half of what it was only a year earlier. It appears the local branch has changed considerably in response to the recent financial difficulties. From the looks of the menu, the establishment is returning to the franchise's original concept of offering a variety of handburgers. This particular location's look and feel have also significantly been upgraded.

We sampled their Spinach Artichoke Dip. It was not bad but failed an obvious dip test. When chips are exhausted before the dip, the dip is nothing special.

It was good to catch up with my parents. We were also privy to a loud talking patron evidently obsessed with the genealogy of one William Humprheys. I have no idea who he is, but I now know way too much about him.

We then met RLN, JSN and my cousins HANW, and HLN at the Clarence Brown Theatre for a presentation of “Guys and Dolls.” We met because I love plays and the show served double duty as a birthday celebration for my uncle, RLN.

Though the play is a classic, I was completely unfamiliar with it. The musical was first produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre (now Richard Rodgers Theatre), opening on November 24, 1950. The play enjoyed an initial run of 1,201 performances and won five 1951 Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical. I had thought about viewing the 1955 movie in preparation fot the show but did not want a local actor to have to contend with Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Sky Masterson. In watching the play, I found I was familiar with much of its memorable score including "A Bushel and a Peck" (Miss Adelaide, Hot Box Girls), "Luck Be a Lady" (Sky, Guys), and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" (Nicely, Company).

We sat in the front row. We did so to obtain seven seats together in a packed house. They actually were great. Recently, the theater removed its first two rows of seats, so the seats were not overly hard on our necks. We were directly in front of the orchestra pit.

My ever observant aunt noticed the irony that my mother (Dotty) was wearing a dotted shirt. SMA, could this look be the concept behind the "Dot Master" alter ego's costume?

I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Guys and Dolls is a musical based on Damon Runyan (1884-1946)'s short story "The Idyll Of Miss Sarah Brown." It was the first musical based upon Runyon material, though he did not live to see it. Though “Guys and Dolls is often performed, it is only the second time in 25 years that UT has done so. The staging was highly elaborate with a cast of 33, a crew of 14 and over eighty costumes beutifully fashioned by costume designer Eric Abele.

Guys and Dolls is the love story between guy gamblers and the dolls who seek to tame them. The real action begins when Nathan Detroit (Adam Heffernan) bets fellow gambler Sky Masterson (portrayed by New York based actor Todd DuBail) that he cannot coerce the righteous sergeant of the local mission Sarah Brown (Lena Hurt) to go with him to Cuba.

I liked the first act and loved Act 2. Many aspects of the play are dated but it was still a highly enjoyable evening with my family. Ash Edwards (as Nicely-Nicely Johnson) has a rousing rendition of "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" despite sounding eerily like Curly Howard of the Three Stooges.

Since the play features the salvation of sinners at a mission, it has many biblical overtures. I liked the theological concept voiced by the general that God can use even gabling for divine purposes. I did not like the message of marrying a man in hopes of changing him after marriage ("Marry the Man today rather than sign and sorrow/Marry the man today and change his ways tomorrow.") I know little of marriage, but I do know it is something to be entered based upon product not potential.

My favorite line of the play was from Joey Biltmore, who is the unseen voice talking to Nathan Detroit on the phone. He explains to Detroit that his sure bet with Masterson is uncertain as women are far less predicatble than horse racing. Amen. This play was clearly written by a man.

The play represents the last play of the 2007-2008 season. It began on April 10 and closes on April 27. It also represents th CBT show for the talented audience favorite Jessica Culaciati, Miss Adelaide in this production. She stole yet another show in this performance.

As this season ends, a new one has been announced. The Clarence Brown Theatre 's 2008-09 season consists of "Ain't Misbehavin'" (September 4-29), "The Secret Rapture" (October 15-26), "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" (October 30-November 17), "The Triumph of Love" (January 29-February 15, 2009), "Love's Labour's Lost" (February 26-March 14, 2009), "Copenhagen" (March 26-April 12, 2009), "Flyin' West" (April 2-12, 2009) and "Tommy" (April 16-May 3, 2009). If anyone wants to go, let me know.