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Johnson: We’ve got the chorus here

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By Linda Johnson, Contributing Writer 11:02 PM Saturday, November 7, 2009

The musical “Guys and Dolls” is one of my favorite musicals. The Damon Runyon stories about small-time hoods have a local counterpart.

Did you know Champaign County has its very own Guys and Dolls? No gangsters involved. The only ’hood is the one where they meet.

The local Guys and Dolls is a choir sponsored by the Senior Center.

A dame named Jacque Howell was itching for a hot game after having done 30 years working in a local education establishment. She did change her tune. Instead of naive juveniles, her new mark would be gullible pensioners.

Jackie called on another member of her old gang, Sue Maurice, to tickle the ivories. The use of the Senior Center dispelled suspicions of the local authorities.

Faster than you could say “Nathan Detroit,” they had a permanent established nonfloating game in Champaign County. In a former church, no less.

Luck, word of mouth, a few strategically placed advertisements combined with a bit of not so gentle persuasion brought Johns and Janes together. Soon they was singing better than stool pigeons.

Most Mondays from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m., the singers rehearse. The session is precise in both the notes and the length of the rehearsal.

The group has been booked for numerous events. Guys and Dolls carol at Christmas festivities for several of the county nursing and assisted living centers as well as the Senior Center’s celebration.

After the holidays, new music and a few more months of rehearsal the dulcet tones will entertain at the annual senior luncheon in May held at the County Fairgrounds (near the racetrack — coincidence?). The audience appreciation is always obvious by the bouncing feet and lip-synching.

Guys and Dolls has performed for special functions such as a reunion for the former Rosewood School.

This group of warblers sounds young and, I’m sure, stays young through activities such as this.

I encourage you to hear one of their performances during the upcoming holidays.

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