Anything Goes

Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes written in 1934 adapted from a collaborative book by P.G. Woodhouse and Guy Bolton. Apparently, there are five versions of Anything Goes. CATS Youth Theatre have done this show twice already over the years, each time with a brand-new cast.

Walking into the theatre we are greeted by the Captain. The set is the deck of SS America. With gangway at the back and stairs either side leading up to it. Rails up the stairs and across the front. Painted all in white the back wall has the effect of metal with the studs visible coming down the wall. Life rings are on the wall with name of the ship on them. A cupboard is in the middle of the stage at the back with double louvered doors painted white. An arrowed bar sign on the back wall Stage Left. The stage was then bare, with railings each side at the front of the stage. Down Stage Left was a door with a First Class Stateroom sign. Stage Right was transformed into the cell scene with added truck. Trucks were then brought on for the bar scene, two cabins of Moonface Martin and Elijah J Whitney. Also, the stateroom of Lord Evelyn Oakleigh complete with chaise longue. Set Design by Louise Cohen, Alan Dodd and Simon White. Set Construction were Simon White, Drew Hogben, Dave Matthew, Alan Dodd, Ian Heyes and Gareth Mabon. Set Artists were Tim Shorten and Drew Hogben. Stage Manager Elliot  Hogben.

Costume was all in keeping and of the period. Wardrobe CATS Youth Theatre, Janet Hardman and Paul Cohen. Make up and hair and especially the wigs all helped aesthetically with the production. Wig Styling by Jake Little.

Emily Cohen choregraphs and makes good use of the stage and accommodating everyone in the tap number Anything Goes making it look effortless. The dancers Lois Done (Purity), Olive Proctor (Charity), Kate Evans (Chasity) and Harriet Heys (Virtue) taking on the more complicated dance steps looked the part.  Louise Cohen was Musical Director and Guest Conductor was David Wilson. Anything Goes boasts quite a few songs that stand up on their own and people will recognise them. Bon Voyage, Easy To Love, Friendship were stand out for me in the first half and in the second half Be Like The Blue Bird, All Through The Night and Buddie, Beware. Louise Cohen directs and with Emily making good use of the stage with the large cast of nearly 50 giving everyone a chance to shine. While the overture played the main cast came on in different positions and held the life rings with their character names on. A lovely touch.

With a large cast, I cannot mention everyone. But the ensemble played their part in listening, reacting and in the big production numbers. Well done. Alfie Browne takes on the role of the Purser, assistant to Lewis Cunliffe’s Captain – good to see how confident they are becoming on stage. Jake Little takes on the role of Elijah J Whitney. Jake does a good job of portraying the buffoon character proud of going to Yale and without his glasses, resorts to binoculars. Jake working well with Ruby Magill who plays Hope’s mother Mrs Evangeline Harcourt. Ruby gave us the larger-than-life mother who wants her daughter to marry well for her convenience - I am so glad that her dog Cheeky was recovered.

Lily Moro took on the role of ditzy Erma. Great interpretation of the flirtatious character and great voice in Buddie Beware. Nathan Dodds played the wealthy eccentric Lord Evelyn Oakleigh who is engaged to Hope. Nathan gave us the bumbling but likeable character fascinated with the American sayings, often getting him into trouble. Nathan looked to have great fun with number The Gypsy in Me. His fiancé Hope Harcourt was played by Mia Arnold. Mia gave us the girl who was engaged to one person but in love with another and you could see her turmoil.

Tom Clancy took on the role of Moonface Martin the gangster and public enemy. Great energy and interaction with other characters. Giving us lots of laughs Tom did a great job with Be Like the Bluebird in the jail cell - very funny and Friendship with Reno played by Lauren Quigley. First of all, Lauren had some stunning dresses and looked the part.  Lauren had a connection with both the cast and the audience, showing elegance and engagement throughout. Ethan Sheppard took on the role of Billy Crocker in love with Hope, working for Elisha Whitney and meeting Moonface Martin. Ethan is fast developing his talents in acting, dancing and singing. Able to be larger than life and also bring out the emotion through acting and song. Great work

Thank you so much for the invite and hosipitality from my guest Craig and I, it’s so lovely to see many young people on stage embracing a bygone era and having fun with it.

Liz Hume-Dawson

District 5 Rep

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