Anything Goes

This show, full of some of Cole Porter's most famous songs, is one of my particular favourites and it was a delight to see it performed by this talented company. The hard work of the production team was obvious in the standard of singing, movement and acting of the cast from the full throttle, show stopping "Blow Gabriel Blow" to the quiet, reflective " All Through the Night" duet. Alan Matheson (Billy Crocker) was equally at ease with the more romantic moments with his love interest Hope Harcourt, played sweetly by Laura Ferguson, and the comedy interaction with Reno Sweeney and Moonface Martin characters. Gill Smith Matheson as the evangelist/nightclub singer Reno Sweeney was excellent, as was Graeme Baird as her unlikely aristocratic love interest Sir Evelyn Oakleigh - his facial expressions were a treat to behold. Much of the laughter in the show was engendered by Keith Cuthill's hapless Public Enemy No 13 Moonface Martin and his man-mad moll Bonnie (Laura Cuthill) - Moonface's rendition of "Be LIke the Bluebird" had the audience in stitches. Strong support was given by Alison Niven (social climbing Mrs W T Harcourt) and Brian Mathieson (Elisha J Whitney). A touch of glamour was brought by Reno's troupe of Angels - Heidi Kelly (Virtue), Emma Ferguson (Chastity), Ali Gillies (Purity) and Caroline Fenwick (Charity). The split level set, designed and built by company members, made good use of the small stage. Costumes were appropriate to the period and added to the ambience of the piece. The nine piece orchestra, under the careful baton of Gordon Smith, played the Porter melodies beautifully and never overpowered the singers. Brechin AOS a "Delovely" evening's entertainment - well done!

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