WHEN Guys and Dolls first premiered on Broadway in 1950, it captured the optimism and energy of post-World War Two America.

A celebration of Prohibition-era New York, it packed a punch back then, but you might expect it to be dated and out of step with today’s tastes.

This, however, is a vibrant and joyful revival that boasts dazzling dance routines, energetic choreography, uplifting show tunes, stunning vocals and simply fizzes with fun!

Based on the colourful stories by American journalist Damon Runyon, renowned for his vivid fictional depictions of the gamblers, hustlers and nightclub singers of New York, it features some of Broadway’s greatest musical numbers.

These include ‘My Time of Day’, ‘Luck be a Lady’, ‘A Bushel and a Peck’ and the show-stopping ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’, which prompted cheers and whistles from the audience.

The show transports us to the lively but dangerous streets of 50s New York where Nathan Detriot (brilliantly portrayed by Colbys’ star Maxwell Caulfield) is trying to fund his travelling dice game while keeping it a secret from his fiancée of 14 years, Miss Adelaide (the hilarious Lucy Jane Adcock, every inch a superb comic actress).

The chemistry between the pair is electric.

In a bid to win his up-front cash, he bets high-roller Sky Masterson (Richard Fleeshman) that he can’t get a date with the religious Sarah Brown (Anna O’Byrne).

Fleeshman - a teenage actor in Coronation Street for four years - proves why he has made such a big impact on Broadway and in the West End as he plays Masterson with just the right mix of cocky arrogance and charm,. He also has a voice to charm the birds from the trees.

Anna O’Byrne is superb as she switches from the goody-two-shoes missionary singing in a perfect operatic voice (after a few Cuban Bacardi flavoured milkshakes!) to a breathless Havana vamp!

The entire ensemble is excellent, although special mention should be made of Jack Edwards who plays the larger than life Nicely-Nicely Johnson who gave a showstopping performance with ‘Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat’.

Other musical highlights were Adcock’s performance of Adelaide’s Lament whilst O’Byrne thrilled the audience with ‘If I Were a Bell’, hitting extremely high notes.

Brimming with toe-tapping tunes and sparkling fun, the show is a winner!