Anything Goes

Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, revised considerably by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story is set on board SS American, which is sailing to London from New York with a colourful assemblage of passengers. Reno Sweeney, a popular nightclub singer and former evangelist has been joined by her pal Billy Crocker assistant to successful Wall Street banker Elisha Whitney. Billy, who has taken the unused ticket of the FBI’s most wanted Snake Eyes-Johnson, has come aboard to be close to his love, American debutante Hope Harcourt who has been pressurised into marrying Lord Evelyn Oakleigh by her social-climbing and snobbish mother, Evangeline Harcourt. Also on board, disguised as a minister, is gangster Moonface Martin, aka “Public Enemy #13”, along with his accomplice Erma, Minister Henry T Dobson and his recent converts, Spit and Dippy. Farcical antics ensue as Reno and Moonface try to help Billy win the love of his life.

The opening scene took place in front of a very colourfully lit gauze with a Bar and stools which after Reno’s opening song were quickly removed and the gauze drawn aside revealing a three step raised dais. Panels were brought in and slotted into place across the top of the ‘steps’ with two doors and port holes on them, wonderfully painted in blue and white. Sailors erected a bar across the front of the stage which became the ship’s rail. There were two further exits at either side of the stage. For later scenes the back panels were turned and miraculously two adjoining ‘State bedrooms’ complete with beds and side drawers appeared and for these scenes tables and chairs were added in front of the raised dais. Also when Billy and Moonface were in jail a folding bar-like structure was placed on the top of the dais. All the set ideas and designs for this very small stage were absolutely ingeniously innovative, constructed by Ken Radmore and Mick Whitehouse and beautifully painted by Scenic Artists Andrew and Sabina Aucock.

Leanne Collins was superb in the role of Reno Sweeney the evangelist turned nightclub singer. She has excellent acting and singing skills particularly evident in ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’ and ‘Bow Gabriel Blow’ and her exuberance, enthusiasm, sassiness and feistiness really shone through, it was indeed a top notch performance and her numerous stunning dresses were just fabulous. Dale Shaw gave a fine and impressive portrayal as Billy Crocker. He has such a natural stage presence and his comedic antics and his switching of identities were just so funny. His rendition of ‘You’re the Top’, along with Reno, was just divine. Paul Holland was perfect as Moonface Martin. He has great acting skills and extricated every ounce of comedy from the role and his delivery of ‘Be Like a Bluebird’ was brilliantly delivered. His sexy sidekick Erma was delightfully played by Grace Randall and as well as her splendid acting skills she has a super singing voice. Chris Peck gave a very praiseworthy and believable performance as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, the slightly dim, naive, wealthy and eccentric fiancé of Hope Harcourt especially when he was ‘drunk’ and in his delivery of ‘The Gypsy in Me’. Tara Foster was charming, sweet, sophisticated and poised as befitted the role of a wealthy heiress and she too has a lovely singing voice. Kristen Dougherty excelled as Hope’s mother, Evangeline Harcourt, bringing out her overbearing, haughty and snobbish aspects wonderfully and Istvan Koszegi was so convincing as Wall Street banker Elisha Whitney. Spit and Dippy, supposedly former gamblers, were well played by Cohan Wildgoose and Mitchell Cole as was Christopher Nussey as Henry T Dobson. It was announced at the start that sadly Philip Hadley, who was to play the Ship’s Captain, had been taken ill and the role was to be played by Mick Whitehouse. I must say Mick did extremely well by using a clipboard which as for this particular character, didn’t look too out of place. The Ship’s Purser was played to perfection by Nicky Constable and his banging on a gong, especially when used to alert the audience of starting times etc. was so amusing, even if, so very loud! Excellent support came from the four Angels, Chloe Thomas, Bethany Thomas, Leanne Barlow and Lindsey Ashley who were Reno’s backing singers and dancers and from the Ships Crew and Passengers.

There were some really hilarious scenes and the large full company numbers were so well sung and the super choreography was so exquisitely and enthusiastically executed. I particularly loved ‘Anything Goes’ which had a terrific tap dancing sequence that was just superb as was ‘Blow Gabriel Blow’ where Reno, in a red robe, and the four Angels all in white appeared at the top of the ‘steps’ to then take off the robes to reveal themselves in extremely tantalising and sexy glittery-fringed dresses - Reno’s was red and the Angel’s were white. The Angels had four male ‘escorts’ and what ensued was an extremely sensual and so impressive top-notch dance routine, made more effective by the addition of the ensemble.

As already mentioned the sets were amazing as were the props and lighting and together with absolutely sumptuous and stunning costumes this was a wonderful production full of fun and energetic enthusiasm from the Principals and from the whole cast. Many congratulations to Director Janet Koszegi, to Producer Mick Whitehouse, to Musical Director Nigel Turner, to Choreographer Leanne Collins, to the whole wonderful cast, to the Back Stage Crews and indeed to everyone else involved. My thanks also for the wonderful warm welcome I received from Janet and from the Front of House Team.

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