Straight out of the Golden Era of near-perfect musicals, "Guys and Dolls" opened at the 46th Street Theatre in November 1950, with a Joe Swerling-Abe Burrow libretto, based on Damon Runyon's New York stories and with a great musical score by Frank Loesser. An instant hit with the public, it ran for more than 1,200 performances.

A must-see version of "Guys and Dolls" opened Feb. 14, running through March 5, at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. As presented here, it's still a near-perfection hit show and two of its leading characters — a guy and a doll — admittedly are having a great time starring in it.

"I grew up singing, and I grew up watching the movie "Guys and Dolls," with Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando," said Alison Walla, who does a wonderful turn as Sarah Brown, the virtuous captain of the Salvation Army of missionaries. "It's one of those classic movies that probably got me hooked on musical theater."

"Guys and Dolls is one of those musicals that has it all — good songs, dancing, costumes, fun characters, great sets and a delightful story. I even appeared in it as Miss Adelaide in high school," added Walla.

"When I booked the job," said Walla, who was classically trained in opera, "I tried not to listen to the soundtrack and wouldn't look at the movie, because I really wanted it to be my own interpretation of the part. By doing that, I think I've discovered some different things about Sarah and, I'm a younger version, in my mid-twenties."

Presented by Maroone Lincoln-Mercury, "Guys and Dolls" revolves around the comic and touching world of gamblers, show girls and Salvation Army missionaries who are trying to "save the sinners" on the streets of New York City.

The main characters are played by Walla, Andrew Polk (easily handling the task of carrying the momentum of the show, he is dynamic, believable and ideal for the role of Nathan Detroit, who sets up floating crap games), Michael Gruber (smooth and elegant with a nice singing range, as Sky Masterson, the handsome gambler who makes a bet that he can take Sarah Brown to dinner in Havana) and Tia Speros (fresh, funny, scene-stealing and fantastic as Miss Adelaide, the showgirl who has been engaged to Nathan for 14 years).

Also shining in their parts are Richard Ruiz (who delivers a rousing, joyful, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" as Nicely-Nicely Johnson) and Richard Vida (who dances and sings up a storm in spite of suffering a serious foot injury and must wear a brace, as Benny Southstreet ).

Walla comes to the Maltz direct from the revival of "Fiddler On The Roof," starring Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donnell. Her other Broadway credits include the recent Tony Award winning revival of "Into The Woods," and "A Little Night Music" at the New York City Opera and "Hello, Dolly" at The New Theatre/Kansas City.

"Unlike Walla, who sings a lot better than Jean Simmons, I had never played this show before," said Polk, who stars as Nathan Detroit. "I had never even seen Guys and Dolls before, so I'm really approaching it from a fresh outlook.

"In fact, I have never done a musical before. So the whole experience has really been new and exciting for me. I'm really having a wonderful time with it."

Polk's training comes from the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, under a Fulbright Scholarship. He appeared on Broadway as Epstein in "Biloxi Blues," for which he received a Helen Hayes Award nomination. Off Broadway, he has appeared in "Flight," "Critical Darling," "The Odyssey" and a number of other productions. He's in a soon-to-be-released film, "Loverboy," directed by Kevin Bacon; in films like "Private Parts" and "Entropy;" and in television shows like "Law & Order," "Law & Order, SVU" "Law & Order, Criminal Intent," and "Third Watch."