The Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is now the well-established flagship event of Opera Australia’s season and has quickly become one of the biggest events on Sydney’s cultural calendar. The opportunity to see a full-scale production on an outdoor stage with an iconic harbour backdrop is something very few cities can offer and every year, no matter what the production, it proves to be a very special night. 

This year, Opera Australia chose to go down the musical route, picking Guys & Dolls for their harbour spectacular, much to the surprise of many in the industry. Although undoubtedly an iconic work, there is a perception that the musical is very much of a bygone era, with little relevance, both thematically and musically, to a modern-day audience. I will admit to being a little sceptical as to how the company would be able to pull it off and maintain the level of interest and accessibility needed to engage the more diverse audience that tends to attend the outdoor show as compared to the standard season in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

The production tells the stories of Sky Masterson (Cody Simpson), who falls in love with a mission worker, Sarah Brown (Annie Aitken) as well as of Nathan Detroit (Bobby Fox) and his tumultuous relationship with Miss Adelaide (Angelina Thomson). The production is set amidst the bustle of New York in the 50s and set designer Brian Thomson does a fantastic job of evoking this, with a grungy set punctuated by a New York cab (with a Handa Opera themed number plate). Of course, the production also moves to Havana for a brief moment and the set transforms into glitz and glamour, illuminated by the iconic fireworks over the harbour that make the Handa Opera so special. 

Of the cast, Cody Simpson is a revelation, taking on the challenging role of Sky Masterson with authority and charisma. While many know Simpson for his swimming exploits, his rich baritone voice fits perfectly for the role, and he delivers his performance with precision in what is astoundingly his first professional musical theatre role. With a performance as strong as this and given his stardom, it will not be long before Broadway producers are snapping him up. 

Aitken and Fox are also very strong, with Aitken blending her voice well in her numbers with Simpson and Fox displaying the necessary charisma for the character of Nathan Detroit. Humour is a big part of the production (and is needed to drive the story forward) and Fox, alongside Thomas Campbell as Lt Branningan, is at the forefront of making sure the audience laughs consistently throughout the performance. 

But the star of this show is undoubtedly Jason Arrow as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, who has just come off a stint as the titular role in Hamilton. His performance “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat” is by far the most theatrical and most contemporary number of the night, with Arrow showing off incredible vocal range in a barnstorming performance alongside the ensemble. It perhaps doesn’t quite fit tonally into the rest of the show but it doesn’t matter as the audience on opening night absolutely loved it, resulting in huge mid-show cheers. It is a rollicking performance and one that is worth the price of admission alone, showing Arrow once again as one of the best theatre performers in Australia at the moment. 

The ensemble is also fantastic, with crisp, modern choreography (designed by Kelley Abbey) being the perfect foil to the main action on stage. The Opera Australia orchestra is also a treat as always, and this year, they are visible to the audience, moving up from the pit into a set piece above the stage. This is a fantastic move and one that will hopefully be replicated in future productions on the harbour. 

If there is any production to see that is quintessentially Sydney, this is the one. As an incredibly clever revival of an iconic work, with a fantastic cast and as much glitz and glamour as the eye could possibly feast on, this is a production that is made for the harbour and sparkles accordingly. With celebrity, pizzazz and substance all combining in gorgeous symbiosis, this is arguably the best production on the harbour since the inception of the concept. With something for everyone from ardent theatre fans to first-timers, this is a production that no-one should miss. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Guys & Dolls plays on Sydney Harbour until 20^th April, 2025. For more information, click here.

Photo credits: Carlita Sari, Neil Bennett and Hamilton Lund