There’s a lot to love about a classic musical.  The familiarity is a cozy hug from someone who just plain out loves you. Even when (OK, sometime especially when) the story is a little far-fetched and the dialogue is dated, a great score will never go out of style, so these old chestnuts will always entertain you. That’s how I feel about Guys and Dolls, on stage now at MusicalFare Theatre. The program notes (yes, a real paper program was put in my hands and I couldn’t be happier!) calls this production “fresh and innovative” and major props go to director Chris Kelly for selecting a diverse and interesting cast. The rest of the show is pure nostalgia.

Chris Cavanagh’s set was simple and props were limited, so the whole show rested on the beautifully costumed (the good work of Kari Drozd) shoulders of the cast. Susan Drozd styled this group to red-lipped perfection.

The best part of this show is Frank Loesser’s killer score, hands down. Music director Theresa Quinn led a spare yet solid band (keyboards, drums, trumpet, bass and reeds) and this simplicity against the vocal talents of the cast let every note shine. There were a couple rocky minutes at the start of the show during the iconic “Fugue for Tin Horns,” but I’d write that off as maybe some audio challenges on this particular night. The delightful surprise of the opening vocal trio (Thomas Evans as Rusty Charlie and Anthony Lazzaro as Benny Southstreet) is Davida Evette Tolbert as Nicely Nicely. She was as Zoot suited as the next guy with her flash of long-red-painted nails giving her flair. 

The story unfolds as it always had: a group of professional gamblers is searching for a place for their next crap game. It’s always good ol’ reliable Nathan Detroit (well played by John Kaczorowski) who makes the arrangements and he’s rolling snake eyes.  Officer Brannigan (Rolando Martin Gomez) is on to him and the do-gooders from the Save a Soul Mission keep marching by to, well, save the sinners’ souls. Leading the pack is Sarah Brown (Sarah Blewett) who is eager to keep the mission viable, but a lack of saved souls is putting the site in danger. High roller Sky Masterson (in a stand-out performance by Alex Anthony Garcia) woos her with a whirlwind dinner date to Cuba and their three back-to-back numbers (“If I Were a Bell,” “My Time of Day,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before”) were dazzling. Garcia’s voice was spectacular as he gave some interesting nuance to phrasing and vocal styling.

There were other great musical moments, too. Maria Pedro as the sniffling Miss Adelaide gives her laments with conviction and she and Kaczorowski milk every moment in “Sue Me.” It’s Bobby Cooke’s sweet and simple styling of “More I Cannot Wish You” that stole my heart. It’s a tender moment and Cooke’s rendition was pure loveliness.

Of course, Jimmy Janowski as Big Jule, the man with the big hat and high voice, is a hoot and a half.

All told, Guys and Dolls is a fun night out with music you’ve heard forever (yes, my grandpa used to sing me “I Love You a Bushel and a Peck”) and will always love. Full disclosure: a family emergency forced my departure three tunes from the end.

Guys and Dolls is onstage to October 8 and runs a sold two hours and some change with a 15-minute intermission.  Secure your tickets at http://www.musicalfare.com.