Anything Goes

Anything Goes achieves a rare kind of alchemy by succeeding at everything it turns its hand to.

It’s a sterling effort in song, dance, staging, acting and storytelling, and it keeps the pace throughout. Tonally, it tightropes between farce and sentimentality deftly. The romance doesn’t veer toward schmaltzy, the comedy never towards cringe.

The plot, cobbled together by six writers including PG Wodehouse,  is little more than a loose framework of jokes and sight gags arranged to showcase Porter’s lugubrious, raffish songs with their carelessly brilliant rhymes. Young New York broker Billy stows away on a luxury ocean liner to prevent Hope, the debutante he loves, from marrying a silly English Lord. He’s abetted by gangster Moonface Martin and his moll Erma, and sultry but sweet nightclub singer Reno.

Jaime O’Donoghue is a knockout as a singer and a dancer in the lead role of Reno Sweeney. The character demands the highest vocal, dance and acting talent which she delivers effortlessly! Rod Jones does a heartbreakingly funny turn as the lovesick old booby, Eli Whitney. Tristan Vanyai (Moonface Martin) delivers a masterclass in subtle, quicksilver comedy and Zach Price, as the heart-throb Crocker, has an amazingly silly side to his talent.

Deserving of an entire review of his own, Jordan Ross (Evelyn Oakleigh) had the audience in stitches with his perfect comedic timing. The perfect yin to Reno’s yang, the pair’s dance number ‘Gypsy in Me’ had the audience laughing, crying of laughter and in thunderous applause.

Vivien Wood’s rendition of “Buddie Beware” is a fun and upbeat character song that showcases her talent. Even though this is meant as a comedic interlude, she comes across as a well-rounded woman who knows what she wants and won’t compromise on it, which is always amazing to watch! Kristen Barros as debutante Hope Harcourt showcased a delicate voice and equally beautiful dancing skills.

As Choreographer, Bec Swain’s work is intricate, detailed and highly entertaining. The talented ensemble tackled every complicated dance number with precision. Set Designer Andy Kennedy imagined a set that enables the audience to feel as if they are observers on the main deck of the ship, with the orchestra to the right of the stage, led by conductor and music director Jacob Cavanough. The full orchestra added to the atmosphere of the show and was a highlight with their perfect execution of the score.

Anything Goes is old fashioned. But it’s also radical, a celebration of freedom and hedonism after Prohibition and the Wall Street Crash. Reno’s nightclub act is a raunchy parody of a revivalist religious meeting. Gangsters are awarded celebrity status. Of course, we know how that decade ended. But the brilliance of this show, directed by Miranda Selwood, is that it wipes away awkward reality. It’s difficult to recommend this show highly enough. If you don’t have an anniversary to celebrate, invent one and book your seats before they sell out.

Mel Newton