Anything Goes

The good ship SS American (docked at Settle’s Victoria Hall) staged an entertaining production of Anything Goes (Beaumont version) – this is the first time I have seen this version, which I personally think is quite different from previous performances I have encountered.

Paul Clayton gave a confident performance in his role as Billy Crocker, the stowaway in pursuit of his love, Hope Harcourt, attractively played by Emily Coates in her first ever musical. Their numbers together were “delightful”.

Hope, however, already has a fiancé - Lord Evelyn Oakleigh - played by Jake Tatham. Lord Evelyn Oakleigh has some amusing comedy lines and Jake delivered these with great timing.  Evangelist nightclub singer, Reno Sweeney - played by Beth Lowe - had a lovely style in comedy and the right voice to handle the romantic and fun numbers and lead the company in the big “Blow Gabriel Blow" and "Anything Goes" numbers.

Funny man, hard working Steven Lawson acquitted himself well as Moonface Martin- criminally ambitious Public Enemy Number 13 and I loved his “Be Like The Blue Bird”...with the clever use of his own ventriloquist blue bird.  Molly Summersgill Smith delightfully played Erma, the gangsters moll and her number “Buddie, Beware” with the sailors was one of the highlights of the show.

Sam Harrison played the elegant Evangeline Harcourt, mother and chaperone of Hope, and Eric Parker had a good character as wealthy businessman, Elisha Whitney.

There were some great supporting roles with nice characterisations, and all cameo roles were well played.

Musical Director Pam Whitehead had assembled a great sounding band to bring out the best in this lovely Cole Porter score.  It was great to see the band on stage (or should I say “a-band-on-ship!), and they had some lovely interactions with the cast throughout the performance.

The production was attractively costumed (Ian Stead Theatrical Costumier) and the staging worked well – I particularly liked the way they created the bow of the ship on the front of the stage and used it as the “bar” in the opening Scene.  It was a very effective use of space, and it was a well used part of the “set” which brought the production closer to the audience.

 

 

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