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Cedar City • "Guys and Dolls," now playing in a smart and sassy production at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, has been called the definitive American musical.

Its subtitle — "a musical fable of Broadway" — reveals one reason. Calling it a fable and saying it's about Broadway suggests that its story is imaginative, rather than realistic, and its characters are larger than life. "Guys and Dolls" offers audiences a colorful cross-section of 1950s Times Square life.

Specifically, what gives the show its zippy flavor are Damon Runyon's fast-talking con-artist characters, brought to vibrant life by Abe Burrows' clever book and Frank Loesser's alternately sweet and saucy songs. Its high-rolling gamblers, smart-mouthed showgirls and sincere Salvation Army soul-savers inhabit a nostalgic world that reflects a simpler, more straightforward America.

The book intertwines two love stories. One focuses on Sky Masterson, a carefree gambler who callously announces, "All dolls are the same," and then falls for Sarah Brown, a sweet-tempered Salvation Army crusader. The other follows Miss Adelaide, a savvy, high-stepping showgirl who can't persuade Nathan Detroit, her slippery, craps-game-addicted fiancé of 14 years, to settle down. "Marriage isn't something you just jump into," he protests glibly.

This production offers a number to please everyone. Redge Palmer, Josh Durfey and Brandon Burk provide an insider's view of the gambling world in the lively "Fugue for Tinhorns" and "Guys and Dolls," and Palmer's raucous rendition of "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" is a show stopper.

Brian Vaughn's Sky and Alexandra Zorn's Sarah celebrate falling in love in the tender ballads "I'll Know," "I've Never Been in Love Before" and "If I Were a Bell." Zorn has a beautiful big voice for such a little lady, and Vaughn's singing voice has mellowed through the years. Big numbers like "Runyonland," "The Crapshooters' Ballet" and "Havana" show off Christine Rowan's eclectic choreography.

The Hot Box girls strut their stuff in "Take Back Your Mink" and "A Bushel and a Peck," which Melinda Parrett's Miss Adelaide punctuates with little squeals. Parrett comically chronicles her frustration with Quinn Mattfeld's Nathan in "Adelaide's Lament," and she and Mattfeld reveal the depth of their romantic impasse in "Sue Me."

In one of the show's best numbers, Parrett and Zorn announce their intention to "Marry the Man Today" ("and change his ways tomorrow") because, as Parrett wisecracks, "You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought."

Leslie Brott's no-nonsense General Cartwright and Jonathan Gillard Daly's empathetic Arvide Abernathy offer strong support, but the irony of casting a shorter, slighter actor like James Newcomb to play Big Jule doesn't pay off. He simply isn't intimidating enough.

"Guys and Dolls" looks like a brightly wrapped present thanks to Jason Lajka's pop-art Times Square set and Kirk Bookman's brightly flashing lights, which continually change color. K.L. Alberts' comic-strip costumes feature garish plaids and stripes for the gamblers and color-coordinated shirts, ties, handkerchiefs, socks and hatbands for Sky and Nathan. Adelaide's flashy outfits contrast tellingly with Sarah's sedate ones.

Peter Rothstein's upbeat direction moves the action along briskly, and Gregg Coffin's musical direction keeps everyone tunefully together. There is no live band this year, but the music was expressly designed and recorded for this production.

The world that "Guys and Dolls" depicts may be dated, but its refreshing blast to the past provides much-needed entertainment in our currently conflicted times. The show is full of musical highlights, and this production colorfully showcases all of them.

'A Bushel and a Peck' and more

Utah Shakespeare Festival stages a fast-moving, fast-talking production of the classic American musical "Guys and Dolls."

When • Reviewed on July 10; plays in rotating repertory Monday-Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. through Sept. 1

Where • Randall L. Jones Theatre at the Beverley Center for the Performing Arts, 351 W. Center St., Cedar City

Tickets • $36-$79 (discounts for groups, students and seniors); 800-PLAYTIX or bard.org/tickets

Running time • Two and a half hours (including an intermission)