Anything Goes

I attended the opening performance of “Anything Goes” and  it ran virtually faultlessly as a show. Under the established production team of Carole Ferguson and Henry Jeffrey, the company staged a bright, snappy and colourful show. Les Murray fitted comfortably into the role of Elisha Whitney, the billionaire financier embarking on trip to England, Simon Grant playing his assistant the luckless Billy Crocker sang and danced his way through this show with skill and pazazz. Leona Evans and Jamie Fletcher complemented each other as the heiress Hope Harcourt and Lord Evelyn Oakleigh respectively with Nicole Weatherstone tagging along as Hope’s mother Evangeline. It was nice to see Leona back to perform with this company from her studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Rebecca Jackson gave a glamorous performance as the delectable evangelist turned night-club hostess Reno Sweeney with her shapely backing group of Angels in the forms of Michaela Calvert, Sadie Cooper, Steph Stewart and Serena Wood. Alan Weatherstone took the part of the apparent clergyman Moonface Martin but who in reality is a gangster (Public Enemy Number 13) complete with violin case housing his gun. It was a shame that his moll Erma played by Chloe Wilkes didn't have any more to sing than her one number Buddy Beware as she has an astounding voice. Bob McLure made the briefest of appearances as the other clergyman Reverend Henry T Dobson before being carted off to the brig. The remaining minor principals and the chorus of ship’s crew and passengers completed the cast. The orchestra of eleven players was more than adequate for the hall and great care was taken by the sound engineer to ensure that the principals’ radio mics were well balanced. This was an afternoon to enjoy the music of Cole Porter and that I did. Thank you Langholm for another good production.

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