In October 1995 BLOC, “the performing title of Bristol Light Opera Club”, staged its “first ever production” of Frank Loesser’s Guys & Dolls, “a musical fable of Broadway”, at the Bristol Hippodrome, directed by Lis Durbin with musical director John Atkin and choreographer Vicki Klein. With no touring set available, designer Matthew Jeanes devised a new look and a “huge team of ‘makers'” built the set and costumes. In his letter, chairman Robert Hurst paid tribute to the club’s founder, John Edwards, who had died in June “at the grand age of 92”, announced the new Bristol Light Opera Chorale’s Merry Widow concerts for 1996, and looked ahead to the club’s 40th production at the theatre.
Cast
- Sky Masterson — Richard Boniface
- Nathan Detroit — Chris Parslow
- Nicely-Nicely Johnson — Dave Crewe
- Benny Southstreet — Joe Chester
- Rusty Charley — Simon Wright
- Harry the Horse — Steve Woolley
- Big Jule — Neil R. Merrett
- Good-time Charlie — Mike Purnell
- Angie the Ox — Simon M. Gregory
- Sarah Brown — Lucy Pope
- General Matilda B. Cartwright — Alison Sutton
- Agatha — Carol Davies
- Arvide Abernathy — Alex C Turasiewicz
- Miss Adelaide — Marilyn Norton-Smith
- Mimi — Jacquie Bell
- Rose — Julia Kennedy
- Lieutenant Brannigan — Gerry Parker