Regals brings a classic musical to life this April

Set in the dazzling, high-stakes world of 1940s New York, Guys and Dolls bursts with gamblers, showgirls, and a whole lot of heart.

Nathan Detroit, the city’s smooth-talking organiser of illegal dice games, is desperate to find a spot for “the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York.” But with the cops and his long-suffering fiancée Adelaide breathing down his neck, Nathan needs quick cash—and fast.

Enter Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler who never backs down from a bet. When Nathan wagers that Sky can’t persuade the virtuous Salvation Army sergeant, Sarah Brown, to join him on a trip to Havana, the stage is set for an irresistible clash of luck, love, and laughter. As Sky tries to charm Sarah for the sake of a bet—and finds his heart unexpectedly on the line—Nathan juggles romance, risk, and responsibility in a city that never sleeps.

With classic songs like “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”, Guys and Dolls is a toe-tapping tale of gamblers and dreamers discovering that sometimes love is the biggest gamble of all.

Name and Role:

Nic Butler and I am playing Miss Adelaide.

John Hogan and I am playing Nathan Detroit

Tell us about yourself:

Nic: I started community theatre in my mid 20’s but grew up dancing and singing. It was a joy to get back into performing as an adult after a little push from my mum, who also used to perform in theatre land. I haven’t wanted to stop being a part of this beautiful world since I started and don’t plan on stopping any time soon. I absolutely love the whole theatre experience, being on stage feels so natural and fun and it’s just great to get to be creative and to make lots of friends along the way. I’ve been very blessed with all of my experiences and am so grateful for it all.

Outside of the theatre world, I am an education consultant in regulation and compliance for Independent Schools in NSW and a part time academic tutor/lecturer at UNSW. I’m also an avid traveller, I love getting to experience the new, the old, the outrageous, and the great outdoors.

John: I’ve performed with various musical theatre companies around Sydney and beyond for 25 years. It’s been a wonderful experience and one I recommend to anyone who enjoys (or thinks they may enjoy) collaborating with others to bring wonderful stories to life on stage. I’ve made many wonderful friends on my musical theatre journey, even meeting my wonderful wife along the way. It’s also been a joy to see our kids catch the musical theatre “bug”and to have the pleasure of performing on stage with them.

What can audiences look forward to when they come see the show?:

Nic: When audiences see this show, they can expect fun, lighthearted story telling and absolutely wonderful music! The cast are absolutely beautiful, I know audiences are going to love watching them all perform as much as I love watching them in the rehearsal room.

John: What can you say about a show like Guys and Dolls? Every number is a cracker! The characters and costumes are fantastic, the music is amazing, the story is a ripper, the choreography is smoking, and the comedy is top shelf. Without a doubt, audiences can expect a super fun night at the Rockdale Town Hall!

How has the rehearsal process been?:

Nic: The rehearsal process has been fun! The laughter, the smiles, the joy… it’s all been so wonderful to be a part of! We really are lucky to get to go to rehearsals a few times a week!

John: Guys and Dolls is a BIG and well-known show, so the pressure has been on to meet the expectations that come with that. Luckily, we have been blessed with a wonderful, talented and hard-working cast and creative team, so all is on track for audiences to experience something special come opening night.

What do you like about the show? Why did you choose to be involved?:

Nic: Guys and Dolls is one of my absolute favourite shows. It’s hilarious, clever, and full of amazing songs and fabulous dances! This show has something for everyone and is definitely for lovers of the golden age musicals!

I knew I had to audition when the show was announced because Miss Adelaide is one of my favourite theatre roles to date and one of the best for a mezzo! I just love the wit and humour Miss Adelaide has and the absolutely chaotic energy that she can bring to every scene and maybe, just maybe, I relate a little bit too well to Miss Adelaide and her story.

John: What’s not to like!? The fact that Guys and Dolls has remained popular for over 75 years is a testament to its timeless appeal. And how could you turn down a role like Nathan Detroit … daunting as it may be to be compared to Nathan Lane’s portrayal of the role in the 1992 Broadway revival!

Other than yourself, which cast member do you think audiences should keep an eye out for? Who is really bringing it?:

Nic: The audience definitely need to be watching the amazing Featured Dance Ensemble! Every single one of them is absolutely fabulous. There is so much talent amongst them and they are the sweetest bunch of humans, ever. They work hard and what they do in every single dance shows how hard they work! I tip my hat to every one of them! I’m in awe!!

John: Honestly, the whole cast is fantastic. However, I have to say that Nic Butler was absolutely born to play Adelaide. Nic is nothing short of amazing in the role and her performance alone would justify grabbing a ticket.

What do you want the audience to think about? What is the message of the show?:

Nic: I’d love the audience to leave the theatre with a skip in their step, humming the songs. The show itself is such a good one that I’d love to remind the audience of how special these classic shows can be and how much we need to celebrate them! The classics are classics for a reason, we’ve gotta keep them alive and playing.

The message… hmmm… great question. I think there’s a few in this show but one I definitely take away is about it being okay to change. Every character in this show changes, to some degree, which is actually pretty darn wonderful! Change can be a beautiful thing if we embrace it and learn from it.

We all change, we grow, we learn, we make mistakes, we apologise, we forgive, and then we change some more… just like the characters in this show.

Acknowledging that change is okay, and lots of the time change is good, might just bring us exactly what we want. This show can remind us all how wonderful change can be.

John: I don’t want audiences to think too hard. I don’t think that is what Guys and Dolls is about. Instead, I want audiences to have fun! Enjoy the wonderful characters, music, choreography and comedy.

At the end of the day, Guys and Dolls is a show about love being a gamble. But, let’s be honest, isn’t it the most wonderful, most significant, most maddening gamble any of us ever make! And Hallelujah to that!

Audiences can catch Guys and Dolls presented by The Regals Musical Society at the Rockdale Town Hall from April 10 - 19. Click this link for ticking and further information