Anything Goes 

By Angie Bedford

Anything Goes

The Production Company last night kicked off its 2011 season with the classic Cole Porter musical Anything Goes.

Despite its age – conceived in the 1930s and updated in the late 1980s – Anything Goes is still incredibly popular, and is currently enjoying a Tony award winning Revival season on Broadway.

It continues to delight audiences, thanks to Porter’s cheeky lyrics and a witty and well developed book.

Anything Goes is musical comedy at its best, with an array of interesting characters all aboard the S.S American on route from Manhattan to London – most with love and/or money on their mind!

Whilst The Production Company’s signature concert style may not supply the grandeur associated with Anything Goes, a simple yet effective set design by Adam Gardnir invites us on board the S.S. American.

Two large steel platforms with lifebuoys housed the band and the cabin scenes. I do think this could have been further upstage, as the downstage area was crowded at times. When the curtain rose in Act 2, we were treated to a simple yet effective array of lights which set the mood perfectly.

Lovely 30s costumes by Fleur Thiemeyer were an array of red, white and blue. Although I feel Reno’s costumes could have been a bit sexier to match Amanda Harrison’s vivacious character – and I must say I would have loved to see Reno and Erma in sailor suits – costumes were otherwise fantastic across the board.

The Angels looked gorgeous in polka dots and Anne Wood as Evangeline Harcourt looked divine in a tailored red suit and turban.

The Production Company have assembled an all-star cast, with a mix of up and coming performers and seasoned pros portraying the lead roles. It’s an absolute treat to see so many stage performers on stage at once!

Amanda Harrison makes a triumphant return to the stage as Reno Sweeney; her glorious voice suited the role to a tee. At the beginning of the show I felt she wasn’t given the opportunity to really steal the show in this larger than life role, but by Blow Gabriel Blow she really shone as the sexy evangelist.

I’d like to see the microphone removed in I Get a Kick out of You so that Reno can sing towards Billy so we can see more of their rapport as shown in the delightful You’re the Top.

Alex Rathgeber and Christy Sullivan played the lovers Billy Crocker and Hope Harcourt. Rathgeber in particular was a joy to watch and his voice perfectly suited the role. Christie Whelan is adorable as sexy Erma, a folly for Wayne Scott Kermond’s Moonface Martin.

John O’May and Anne Wood are a great pair as Elisha Whitney and Evangeline Harcourt.

The crowd favourite on opening night was Todd McKenney who was at his best as stoffy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. He displayed impeccable comic timing and topped it all off with a fantastic rendition of Gypsy in Me.

The performances overall were a more melodramatic performance style, which in this instance suited the frivolity of the narrative. It was a pleasure to watch.
Choreography by Andrew Hallsworth was fantastic.

A lot of the movement was quite literal and really brought to life the nuances in Porter’s score. I loved the hand gestures in Blow, Gabriel, Blow and the use of the lifebuoys in the movement was just fantastic!

The Anything Goes dance break was also wonderful. It is fantastic to see such a high level of choreography, well executed, in a concert style setting.

Congratulations to The Production Company on a great start to what I’m sure will be a knockout 2011 season.