'Guys and Dolls' to take the stage in Fulda

• 'Guys and Dolls'

Brian Korthals/Daily Globe Lead characters Mike Peterson and Linda Lund rehearse their roles for the Fulda Community Players production of Guys and Dolls Thursday night at the Fulda Elementary School. Performances are April 3, 4 and 5 at the school.

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FULDA — With the financial situation these days, any kind of investment is a gamble, but for just a few bucks, anyone can grab a few hours of fine entertainment during the Fulda Community Education production of “Guys and Dolls.” The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. April 3-4 and 1:30 p.m. April 5.

Between Sky Masterson’s suave lines, Miss Adalaide’s hypochondria, Nathan Detroit’s sly maneuvers and Sarah Brown’s attempts to bring everyone into redemption, the well-known play sparkles with energy and laughter on the Fulda stage. So come and sit down before you rock the boat.

“I have seen it so many times, and I’ve always wanted to try it,” said Wilma Lindquist, Fulda Community Education director. “The music is great and the characters just make you smile.”

“Guys and Dolls” is the story of a couple of scoundrel gamblers and the women who love them, but don’t know how to make heads or tails of their gambling habits.

Mike Peterson, who plays Masterson, said his wife laughed when she heard what character he was playing. Masterson is suave, debonair and a ladies’ man.

“Totally unlike you,” she told him.

Apparently, that is why they call it acting. Peterson delivers a fun-loving, money-hungry, silky-smooth character that will keep the audience chuckling.

“I’m having a great time,” he said, still slightly disconcerted over Lindquist’s announcement that his graying hair would be dyed black for the performances to give a younger look. “The challenge of this character is to get all the lines memorized so I can be in character.”

He has gotten help from that with a veteran actress in Fulda — one who has played opposite him for several plays.

They raised girls together in “Fiddler on the Roof,” got married in “The Sound of Music” and have worked together so often on the stage they have an energy of their own. For “Guys and Dolls,” Peterson, as Masterson, tries to convince mission leader Sarah Brown that he is just trying to repent for his sins — all the while trying to set up a craps game in her mission hall and convince her to have dinner with him.

Linda Lund, who has played Golda to Peterson’s Tevye in “Fiddler” and the nun Maria to his Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” is having a great time resisting becoming Masterson’s “doll.”

“In one scene, I have to be drunk,” she laughed. “I’ve never been drunk in my life!”

Another favorite scene, Lund said, is the song in which she talks about marrying a man and then trying to fix him.

“We all know that doesn’t work,” she laughed. “But it’s good in a musical.”

Dan Uttech, who plays the role of Nathan Detroit, is having a great time, as he does every time he’s onstage, he said.

“It’s a great role,” Uttech admitted. “There is quick dialogue and short lines, so everyone has to be prepared. I love interacting with Miss Adalaide — we have a lot of neat scenes together.”

Miss Adalaide is played by Sheila Crowley, another veteran of the stage who has shown many people in Fulda and beyond how much power she has in her voice.

Surprisingly enough, three of the four principles in this production admitted they had never seen the play until asked to become involved. They all rented the movie and watched it several times, trying to get a handle on their characters.

But, according to Lindquist, you couldn’t ask for a better group of people to take up the challenge.

“I think we have the cream of the crop as far as vocalists in town,” she stated. “They have very strong voices and are having fun. It’s working out great.”

The show is brought together by a cast and crew of more than 40 people who all bring their talents to the production. From pianist Sherri Isder to Peterson’s son Todd, who plays the gambler Harry the Horse, the entire crew tells a great story about the Save A Soul Mission, the reliability of Nathan Detroit, the virtues of not rocking a boat and those imploring Lady Luck to not stray from their side.

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