Pentacle has proven itself very capable in the past of presenting large-scale musicals, as shown with the recent success of "Gypsy," a show every bit as complicated as Guys and Dolls. Yet somehow, Pentacle and its production staff bit off more than they could chew with this one. Corners had to be cut. Scenery and props were limited to various chairs and tables placed in front of simple, comic book painted backgrounds. The instrumental accompaniment was uneven; the electronic orchestra did not mesh well with the occasional real instruments in the soundtrack. Some of the women's costumes looked as if the last stitch had been thrown in just before the curtain had risen. These things do not make a play bad. They can, however, leave a viewer wondering just how great a good play could have been.

Even if the production itself might have had loose ends, the performers were in complete control of their craft. Sanders and Williamson were in excellent balance. Sanders played Nathan Detroit as if at any moment he might unzip himself and allow Bugs Bunny to step out. Williamson, who smoldered beautifully in his recent appearance on Pentacle's stage in "Miss Julie," is the one actor in the play who flatly refused to be a comic-book character. Instead he progressed Sky Masterson with penetrating gazes and angst, even deeper perhaps than the play required. Schwartz as Miss Brown has a breathtakingly well-developed singing voice, and played her role with restraint. She was responsible for the funniest scene in the play, where the increasingly drunk missionaries' athletics provided the best choreography of the night.

Little roles are masterfully possessed by big actors in every corner of the play. Watch Anita Davis' General Cartwright take joy in the evilness of her blessed sinners; Dave Davis' calm, smiling faith as Arvide Abernathy; Walter Haight's comedy prowess coming through in a few frightening words as Big Jule. The biggest of the small was Jeffrey D Witt's Nicely-Nicely Johnson, who offered perfectly paced comedy as Detroit's compulsive-eating and oddly honorable side-kick.

But the night belonged to Geri Greeno, in her darling and ditzy inhabitation of dancing girl Miss Adelaide. Neither trashy or saccharine, Greeno's Adelaide was the funnest part of the evening, never letting a laugh fall flat or a song be sung with just her mouth.

Guys and Dolls is worth the price of admission, its weak points are fully compensated for by a powerful and proud cast. Go ahead, roll the dice and see what Lady Luck has in store for you at Pentacle's production of "Guys and Dolls."

For Tickets and information contact Pentacle through their Web site at pentacletheatre.org