There is no denying the expectations surrounding productions put on by the Thalian Association Community theater, and they teamed up with UNC Wilmington’s Kenan Auditorium to put on the gambling comedy musical, “Guys and Dolls.”

“Life is one long crap game and the devil is using loaded dice,” said Brenton Schraff, echoing one of the show’s main characters, Sky Masterson, last night during the production in Kenan Auditorium.

The production of “Guys and Dolls” was outstanding. Not only was the music exquisite, but the actors and actresses were exceptional. Samantha Mifsud, playing Salvation Army worker Sarah Brown, has a voice that belongs at an opera house with her belting high notes, but the song that really soared was the duet “I’ll Know” sung by both Mifsud and Schraff. Another fan favorite was Miss Adelaide’s song “Adelaide’s Lament,” which was breathtakingly unforgettable.

The wording used throughout showed how much these gamblers think of betting, whether it was about how men act when in love or how they pray to “Lady Luck.”

To give a brief summary, Guys and Dolls are about Nathan Detroit (Jon Wallin) a man engaged to singer Miss Adelaide (Katie Villecco) for 14 years. The play follows him trying to find a place to run him gambling ventures. He cannot afford to pay a thousand dollars for the Biltmore Garage, so he bets high-flyer gambler Sky Masterson (Brenton Schraff), that he cannot take missionary Sarah Brown (Samantha Mifsud) to Havana for the weekend.

“With the opening trio of Gamblers singing, ‘fugue for tinhorns,” you knew it was going to be great,” said audience member Vicki Knowles.

“Our cast of male singers are really good,” says audience member Bill Knowles.

The costuming is both stylish and vibrant, catching your eye along with beautiful backdrops that were used to make the audience feel like they are moving through the city with the characters themselves. You never wanted to look away. The only part of the scenery that was a little disappointing was the writing on the missionary wall. It was sloppy looking, but the clean scene changes and the rest of the missionary building made up for the messy writing.

A main theme throughout the production was how the gamblers believe that love is a sickness. This ironically is shown by Miss Adelaide who has a cold from the uncertainty that she will ever get married to Nathan Detroit who she loves. Are these gamblers right? Is love a disease that corrupts and changes you, or does it simply change you for the good? From the looks of Sky Masterson, it looks like love is a sickness that makes people want to be better for the ones they love.

“Guys and Dolls” is a highly recommended production if you want to laugh, sigh in bliss and hum the songs all the way home. Gather your friends and invite your favorite dolls to come to see the show!

“Guys and Dolls” is playing at UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium Feb. 13-16.