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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Jacksonville man who summited Everest will help in Nepal relief efforts Since You Asked: Lost Creek outflows are as low as they can go 'Stolen' wheelchair actually traded by owner, police say Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Jacksonville man who summited Everest will help in Nepal relief efforts 'Stolen' wheelchair actually traded by owner, police say That smoke in Ashland hills likely from underburn Fourth Kairos employee arrested in Grants Pass Politics and Elections Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Education Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Neal Simon: This is a test Four candidates run for two Eagle Point School Board slots Ashland students reach out to help pets in need Ruch students hold Dash for Diapers Environment Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation Armed protesters gather at Medford BLM office over Sugar Pine Mine dispute Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste State News Fixit tag for Portland's noted Portland Building: $175 million Fee targets rail cars that haul oil, other flammables Boyfriend of psychic sentenced in con of Oregon timber heir Oregon judge goes light on repeat drunk-driving offender Obama to talk trade in visit to Oregon, Nike Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Alice Irenia (McFall) Calkins Dennis Dean Ekwall Greg Ansok Thomas H. Love Jr. Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Yreka's late homer sinks Eagles Clippers top Spurs, force Game 7 Despite suitors, Titans were all in with Mariota Ravens visit area where protests started Fowler wins to secure weekend spot Varsity 541 College Sports National champ SOU's spring game is tonight Oregon coaches, players ready to ‘split up and play’ Donahue, Beavers down USC at home King's single lifts OSU over No. 10 USC Emmert, Silver not on same page with one-and-dones Pro Sports Clippers top Spurs, force Game 7 Despite suitors, Titans were all in with Mariota Ravens visit area where protests started Fowler wins to secure weekend spot Will fight live up to hype? History gives a clue Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Comcast deal dropped along with Pac-12 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option Cars We Remember: Mr. Hot Rod’s 1966 Chevelle 396 Real Estate News Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house GREEN ACRES: Southern Oregon provides escape from the maddening crowd People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Letters to the Editor, May 1 Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore Granlund cartoon: End of the Vietnam war Clive McFarlane: Baltimore reaps the whirlwind Editorials Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Our View: Medical marijuana market not at risk Our View: Don't wait on public records reform Our View: Yes to faster speeds, no to lane splitting Our View: Sensation and sensibility: a balancing act Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 1 Letters to the Editor, April 30 Letters to the Editor, April 29 Letters to the Editor, April 28 Letters to the Editor, April 27 Columns Michael Gerson: A pastor's faith in Baltimore George Will: What stands in Lindsey Graham's way Dana Milbank: Billionaire politics Kathleen Parker: Comedy, tragedy and fear of free speech Michael Gerson: Weighing the baggage Hillary brings Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Lifestyle Latest stories Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Fishing Report: Friday, May 1 Hike of the Week: Black Butte Trail in the Siskiyou Wilderness Go with the (low) flow Get Out: Friday, May 1 Food Andrea Honaker: Mexican-inspired dips for Cinco de Mayo Page H. Onorato: Enjoying good food just for the fun of it Page H. Onorato: Food items appear in the funnies Community blog: Variations on potato patties please brunch palates Food for Thought: Grill up a storm as the weather gets warm Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Dear Monty: 10 tips to avoid tenant complaints Home Help: Upgrade your entryway with simple DIY projects Costa Living: Basking in flower power Health Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner 'Game changer' for heart patients Health Watch: Tips for protecting your eyes Dr. Jeff Hersh: Could severe cramping mean endometriosis? Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Milestones and Achievements ENGAGEMENT: Sellers-James Witham's birthday bash draws hundreds for 1950s prices Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Firefall tonight at the Craterian Theater in Medford Trio Brasileiro plays Old Siskiyou Barn Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Theater Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Thanks for the Memories stages 'Company' one night only Camelot Theatre presents 'Arsenic and Old Lace' 'Secret Love' playwright Stan Lai appears in Ashland Music Live Music in Local Clubs Firefall tonight at the Craterian Theater in Medford Trio Brasileiro plays Old Siskiyou Barn Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Maria Muldaur at the Unitarian Fellowship Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Foreign language film festival set at SOU Movies Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party (No heading) Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Quick Flicks: ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Insurgent’ and more Dining Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Set a table from your local farmers market Let's do brunch! Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope ... Fishing Report: Friday, May 1 ... Since You Asked: Lost Creek outflows are as low as they can go ... Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope ... Fishing Report: Friday, May 1 ... Since You Asked: Lost Creek outflows are as low as they can go ... OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment Comment By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 6:14 PM By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 6:14 PM » Social News The hustlers of “Guys and Dolls” live in a world where the stakes are high, the streets are mean, and the hearts are gold. In the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's rollicking new production, which opened Saturday night, director Mary Zimmerman and company nail that Runyonesque duality. High-rolling Sky Masterson (Jeremy Peter Johnson) is a bachelor who'll bet on anything. Nathan Detroit (Rodney Gardiner), who runs the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York, is unable to pull the trigger on the nuptials after 14 years of being engaged to Miss Adelaide (Robin Goodrin Nordli), a burlesque dancer at the Hot Box. When Nathan bets Sky that he can't take a doll of Nathan's choice to Havana for dinner (read: seduction), Nathan picks Sarah Brown (Kate Hurster), a straight-laced doll from the Salvation Army-like Save-A-Soul Mission. He's confident. But Adelaide can't wait forever, as Nordli explains in "Miss Adelaide's Lament." What's more, Nathan has run out of places to hold the big game due to heat from Lt. Brannigan (Robert Vincent Frank). The only option is a garage where the owner demands a deposit of $1,000.   With Frank Loesser's songs perfectly integrated into Jo Swerling and Abe Burrow's book based on Damon Runyon stories, “Guys and Dolls” has been called the perfect musical. Opening in 1950 and running for 1,200 performances, it epitomizes the best of Golden-Age, post-"Oklahoma,” pre-Sondheim Broadway. The OSF's Bowmer is half the size of many Broadway theaters, and things are to that scale. Orchestrator Doug Peck has given the score a smart jazz treatment, and eight musicians play with swanky, Big Apple flair. Daniel Pelzig's choreography helps develop the characters rather than merely dazzling us. Memorable moments include a chorus line of comely dolls and Nicely-Nicely Johnson (played by the hefty Daniel T. Parker) bouncing around as if he had wings on his feet. The revival-tent fervor of "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" almost blows off the Bowmer's roof. “The Oldest Established” is a paean to a Broadway before both its decline and later re-purposing as a tourist magnet. Zimmerman keeps the focus on a fairy-tale sensibility in which the characters must be transformed. With a Tony-winning adaptation of Ovid's "Metamorphoses" on her resume, Zimmerman, who directed the OSF's 2012 "The White Snake," is a specialist in bringing dramatic transformations to vivid life. “If I Were a Bell” marks the opening of pious Sarah's heart to adult love after Sky buys her several “Cuban milkshakes” made with Bacardi in Havana, and she realizes she's having fun for the first time in her life. The song includes sly, 1950s sexual innuendo. Returning to the streets of New York at  4 a.m. , his favorite time of day, Sky realizes Sarah is the only woman he's ever wanted to share it with in “My Time of Day.” ("When the smell of the rain-washed pavement /  Comes up clean, and fresh, and cold /  And the street lamp light / Fills the gutter with gold"). As a Runyon character might say, "It is more than somewhat unlikely that youse will find lyrics of such beyooty in the effects-driven shows that today are enjoying great popularity." Gardiner's quick-witted Nathan always has another trick up his sleeve. Johnson's Sky is a cynic with a heart of gold. Nordli's love/frustration with Nathan is palpable. Hurster makes us believe Sarah's transformation is inevitable. Big Jule, a hoot as played by Richard Elmore, is mock-scary as he insists on shooting craps on credit, with his own invisible dice, whose special pips only he can see. Elmore is a master (as is Tony DeBruno playing Harry the Horse) of Runyonese, a mashup of tough-guy street-talk and faux pomposity, delivered in the present tense. Miss Adelaide is Cinderella, Sarah is Sleeping Beauty, and Nathan and Sky are two very lucky Prince Charmings. All these guys and dolls really need is love. As you leave, the stars are a little brighter, and there's a spring in your step. Reach Medford freelance writer Bill Varble at [email protected]. By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Bill Varble for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 6:14 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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