From Nov. 5-8, the beautiful Gates Concert Hall in the Newman Performing Arts Center filled with audience members waiting to see the Lamont School of Music’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” The show is a classic musical from the ‘50s with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and was directed by professor Kenneth Cox, director of the Lamont Opera Theater. The five main characters switched off between two casts for Thursday and Saturday night, and Friday and Sunday.

The show is set in 1950s New York and follows Nathan Detroit (Zach McCulley and Zeky Nadji), a crap game coordinator in need of $1,000, as he bets legendary gambler Sky Masterson (Matthew Stewart and Jared Giammanco) that he can’t take the moral missionary Sarah Brown (Jovahnna Anderson and Grace Clark) with him to Havana. Nathan struggles between devotion to his fiancée of 14 years, Adelaide (Sonora Dolce and Terra Leann Salazar), and devotion to his gambling, while Sky and Sarah work to figure out their feelings for each other.

The cast was fantastic vocally and the orchestral music was wonderfully jazzy. At Thursday’s performance, Stewart’s Sky Masterson was charming and resonant, and played well off of Anderson’s cheeky Sarah Brown. Dolce was a crowd-pleaser with her comedic interpretation of Adelaide, and the constant antics between her and McCulley’s Nathan Detroit were highly amusing throughout the show.

However, despite a great cast, the show overall was ultimately disappointing. Almost all the humor derived from tired stereotypes about men and women, many of which were cringe-worthy. Nathan’s character was built entirely around his fear of marriage and Sky got Sarah unknowingly drunk in Havana. There is only one time when the lead women interact, and it is to discuss the solution to their problems with men. This “solution” is simply to marry them and trick them into domestic life by getting pregnant and having a pot roast ready. While a certain amount of these jokes are excusable given the time period, it’s hard to overlook the entire show. Many shows from this time period are at least saved by a great plot, charming characters and a fantastic soundtrack, but the characters weren’t likeable enough to generate much interest and the plot was rather scattered. Some shows can stand the test of time, but “Guys and Dolls” isn’t one of them.

Lamont seems to be stuck in the past with its musical choices, and a more modern show might be what it takes to give some life to the performances and attract more student viewers. With the incredible talent that Lamont has to offer, they could do great things with a show that has truly good content.

More information about Lamont’s upcoming productions can be found on their website.