Anything Goes

Quite a number of the Keswick company had been to the NODA award weekend in Blackpool and only had Monday to sort out the technical, and dress rehearsal before opening night on Tuesday, but all credit to them, this was an excellent performance, at Theatre by the Lake.

Anything goes is a light, and frothy show, with some memorable Cole Porter standards, loads of comedy, and mistaken identity, and the plot takes place on board the SS American, sailing from New York to London, and the company certainly did the show justice.

There were some lovely performances, from the principal characters. Jenni Thornton was very convincing as cabaret star Reno Sweeney. She was very well supported by James Hutchinson as Billy Crocker, although I did feel that perhaps his beautitul lyric tenor voice was better suited to operetta, than musical comedy. James Sheppard playing his first leading role with the society, was a superb Public Enemy No 13, Moonface Martin and Peter Bergius was a suitably eccentric English aristocrat, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. Emily Greenhow in her second leading role, played a very charming Hope Harcourt. Special mention must also go to Neil Airey, who not only played the important role of Elisha J. Whitney extremely well, but he had also designed and built the set. All minor roles were well played and the big production numbers, ‘Anything Goes’, and ‘ Blow Gabriel Blow’, were very well performed by the whole company. I love to see the whole company having a go at tap numbers, rather than a dance troupe, well done all you tappers!!!!.

A very good production by Chris Briggs, he had welded a strong team together. The band were excellent, and certainly did Cole Porter’s score justice. Sound and lighting were good, but just one little criticism, if I may, the costumes were not always of period.

It is always a great pleasure to visit this superb theatre, on the shores of Derwentwater, and to see an enjoyable performance, makes the drive home more worthwhile. Well done KAOS, I hope the rest of the run is as successful, as the night we visited.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.