Curtain Up, Hearts Full: Why MTDXB’s Guys and Dolls Hit All the Right Notes
- Purva Grover
- May 27
- 6 min read
You don’t expect to walk into a Dubai theatre and feel like you’ve stepped onto the streets of 1950s New York — complete with gamblers, showgirls, rotary phones, and the shimmer of Broadway-style spectacle. But that’s exactly what happened on a recent Saturday night as MTDXB brought Guys and Dolls to life with flair, finesse, and a whole lot of heart.
POV: You've been watching theatre in Dubai for 13 years (with a bit of playwrighting, direction, and production thrown in), and you're a regular at Dubai Opera and local community shows — so, yes, you allow yourself to give MTDXB a solid Grade A.
You know how sometimes we glorify the things we don't do? We look at others' passions and think, "Wow, that's so cultured," while quietly underestimating our inclinations. I used to do that — until I stopped. I stopped pretending I enjoyed what I thought I should enjoy and started owning what makes my heart sing. For me, that's musical theatre. I returned from a short April 2024 trip to New York, where I watched Moulin Rouge, Wicked & Juliet, and more! My head was buzzing with Broadway glitter. Then, I stumbled upon MTDXB's Grease in June 2024. I wasn't ready to step out of that NYC reverie — but I did. And if you've heard me raving about MTDXB since then, you know I'm so glad I did.
We at stories over art witnessed two of their previous performances, and here's what we thought of them.
It was through Grease that I truly acknowledged something: musicals are my thing. Always have been. I've seen quite a few in the region — The Lion King in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton too — but those were visiting productions. What Dubai was missing was a musical theatre culture, and MTDXB is filling that gap beautifully.
So yes, this is a review of their latest production (Guys and Dolls), but it's also an ode to the group itself. What began in 2021 as a small group of passionate performers looking for a creative outlet has become one of Dubai's most exciting artistic communities. They're celebrating four years of theatre, friendship, and flair this year. They claim that they are more than a theatre group — it's a family. A thriving, glitter-drenched, harmony-filled family.
On a recent Saturday night (May 2024), I walked into 1950s New York — with flats on because I knew there'd be dancing. I'd already seen a few of their productions, so I knew better than to underestimate them. Outside, it was peak Dubai summer — muggy and sticky. But inside, the carnival had just begun. What strikes me is how seriously they take their craft — not in a stiff, overwrought way, but with full-hearted talent, commitment, and joy. Guys and Dolls pulled us right into a world of broad-stroke archetypes and classic tropes: gamblers, showgirls, sermons, salvation, and sizzling chemistry.
The musical delivered exactly what it promised: energy, comedy, nostalgia, and a delicious kind of chaos. The stage was alive with life — bustling, bouncing, and beautifully coordinated. The stage design was next-level: the doors, the rotary dial phones, the diner signage, the iconic New York fire escapes — even the underground sewage manhole! Yes, they thought of everything. The auditorium walls were adorned with posters of Guys and Dolls productions performed globally over the decades; great touch.
And the costumes? Pearls, polka dots, faux fur, pink frilled frocks, shimmering gowns — I wanted to raid that entire wardrobe. Fashion folks, are you listening? Let's bring those bows and headbands back.
The cast was electric.
Nathan Detroit (Glenn Atkinson) was a riot — the shiny purple shoes alone deserve a standing ovation — and his chemistry with Adelaide (Bethanie Mitchinson) was pure musical theatre gold. Bethanie's comic timing, big gestures, and showstopping delivery of Adelaide's Lament had us giggling and cheering.
We flew to Hawaii for a hot second — headbands and paper sunglasses included (offered to the audience) — and yes, I wanted to live there forever.
Jack Bruce as Nicely-Nicely Johnson was hilarious, but he gave us something tender at the moment of his musical epiphany: heartfelt! Of course, high-roller Sky Masterson (Bryn Mitchell) fit in right under the setting — flamboyant, and he wore it all well — his dancing shoes and singing voice. He wore the carefree attitude well only until he fell in love with mission worker Sarah Brown (Sinead O'Donovan). Sinead had a calming demeanor that substantially impacted the show; we loved her.
The choreography by Danielle Romero was show-stealing.
Dancers seamlessly used every level of the auditorium — floors, aisles, and stages. It was a symphony of movement, perfectly timed and bursting with personality. The energy was contagious; you couldn't help but grin, tap your toes, and bounce along. And the band — yes, a live 14-piece professional band — was right there on stage, making it all even more magical. We think this was the first time they had an orchestra prominently featured, a great idea to shine a light on the musicians.
The standout moments kept coming:
– When the two lead ladies (Sarah and Adelaide) sang in sync, it was goosebumps and glitter.
– When Sky turned up in missionary garb — costume change magic and hilarious!
– The confessions in front of the General at the mission — heartwarming and heartfelt. It put the spotlight on each character/actor and how they shone. Big Jule, you are a star. Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie, take a bow and autographs, please!
– That final number? Pure theatre joy.
The one-liners were sharp and familiar and still made us laugh out loud. "Why do you want to have dinner with me?" "Because I'm hungry." Classic. ‘I thought I hated him. I still hate him. But then that's love.” Gold.
MTDXB's curtain call isn't just a bow. It's a celebration — heartbeats pounding, breathless hugs, an entire audience up on their feet, dancing, clapping, grinning like kids on Christmas morning. You walk out of the auditorium, still humming the tunes. You download the playlist. You sing it in the car. You belt it in the shower. It becomes your week's soundtrack.
Oh, the joy of seeing familiar faces in new roles.
To us loyal regulars, there's something extra fun in that. You whisper to your friend, "Wasn't that the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella?" Yep. She was. When he walked in, she was on the stage with a mic, glamouring, welcoming, and performing. As co-founder Bethanie Mitchinson beautifully put it, "In a city as fast-paced as Dubai, it can sometimes be difficult to find a sense of belonging. But through MTDXB, we've created a space where people can connect, express themselves, and be part of something truly special."
Could we become part of the act next time?
They even handed us missionary flyers and offered to shine our shoes. We were invited to sit on the stage, too. And even dance alongside. They did go immersive — and while I loved it, part of me wondered if they could have taken it further. Could we become part of the act next time? Just a thought! Usually, there is a temptation and attempt to add a Dubai touch to the productions (they did so when they staged Cinderella), but we were glad this one was untouched.
They've built a space where passion meets performance. A place where a city that often races ahead can pause, tap its foot, sing a little, and remember what it's like to feel something live, real, and unscripted. We’re still singing: Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat.
This was MTDXB's ninth show — their third full-scale musical — and featured a cast of 50+ and that incredible band. As director Claire Bennett put it, Guys and Dolls is about "love, luck, and community." And that's precisely what MTDXB has become for Dubai's theatre lovers. Here's to more nights like this. More standing ovations. More impromptu kitchen karaoke vibes. And more of MTDXB doing what they do best — reminding us that community theatre isn't "less than." Sometimes, it's everything.
Authored by Purva Grover
Purva Grover is an author, journalist, and creative entrepreneur. She is the founder-editor of storiesoverart.com, a sanctuary for all who find solace, inspiration, and purpose in art. In a world that often overlooks the significance of art, she stands firm in her belief that it is essential, more so than anything else.
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