WITH an exuberant roll of the dice, St Austell Amateur Operatic Society transported audiences to the fabled streets of Broadway, New York, last week.

The society staged the musical comedy, Guys and Dolls, for the second time in its long history, the first run being in the year 2000.

Some of those in the shows 24 years ago were treading the boards again to help tell the lightly-sketched tale of winning and losing on several levels.

The two-and-a-half-hour show, inspired by stories written by Damon Runyon in the 1920s and 1930s with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, cracked on at a brisk pace with slick and simple scene changes and much to please punters.

The performances, using a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, gave a refreshed take on the musical which premiered in 1950 and became a big favourite with theatre-goers.

Gamblers, gangsters, showgirls and members of a missionary band got mixed up in two love stories, one a 14-year on-off engagement and the other an unexpected whirlwind romance.

With hit songs such as Luck Be A Lady and Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat, tried and tested one-liners, running gags and physical comedy, there was not a dull moment to be had in the show deftly directed by Kathy West.

Unreliable but likeable gambler Nathan Detroit, played with an easy charm by Stefan Richards, not only has the police on his back as he tries to stage gambling nights but his showgirl fiancée Miss Adelaide, energetically and sympathetically portrayed by Jess Madeley, really wants him to get married and settle down.

Fellow gambler Sky Masterson, played with panache by Ryan Full, isn’t looking for a relationship much preferring the enticement of dice and cards. But then for a bet he’s out to date straight-laced mission leader Sarah Brown, whose essence is captured sweetly by Camilla Mills.

Unexpected twists and turns added to the fun, and all against a backdrop of fabulous music provided by a live band under the direction of Nick Long.

Jonathan Tucker, as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, and Jack Foster, as Benny Southstreet, provided assured comedic support as sidekicks to Nathan Detroit, while St Austell Amateur Operatic Society chairman Craig Munday brought a nice balance to the tenacious yet largely outfoxed police officer, Lieutenant Branigan.

Matthew Whetter played a frighteningly good Big Jule, the gangster you don’t want to cross, while Lionel Burrows comfortably filled the boots of the kindly missioner Arvide Abernathy.

Jess Madeley (Miss Adelaide) as choreographer put together some showstopping routines, as well as the cheeky scenes involving the Hot Box girls.

The show ran at the Keay Theatre, St Austell.