Anything Goes. Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter. Original book by P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton. Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. New book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. Directed by Marty King. Musical direction by Jim McMullen. Choreography by Emma Tattam. Canberra Philharmonic Society. Erindale Theatre. Until August 27. Bookings: philo.org.au or 6257 1950.
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Philo, you're the tops. If Canberra Philharmonic Society's production of Anything Goes is anything to go by, this show is sailing into a sell-out season.
Cole Porter's evergreen musical about love-struck New York broker Billy Crocker (Marcus Hurley) who stows away on a liner bound for England to pursue the love of his life, Hope Harcourt (Amelia Juniper-Grey) is as fresh and funny as it was when it was first produced in 1934.
With a clever book by Timothy Crouse and Howard Weidman, based on the original by P.G. Wodehouse of Jeeves fame, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and the wit, sophistication and catchy melodies of Porter's music and lyrics, Anything Goes is nothing short of delightful and de-lovely.
In Philo's splendidly staged version, with sumptuous period costuming by Pip Muller and Heather Palazzi and set design by Ian Croker, director Marty King, musical director Jim McMullen and choreographer Emma Tattum have gathered together a team that have done this all-time favourite proud.
The clever use of original black and white film footage to establish the period and place during the overture sets the mood for a swinging, swaying swell ride upon the open sea. One hit song follows another.
Unforgettable numbers include I Get a Kick Out of You, You're the Top, Friendship, It's De-lovely and tap choreographer Riley Gill's act one finale title song, Anything Goes. Act two keeps the show on a roll with Blow Gabriel Blow andBuddy Beware.
What gives this production its extra kick is director King's casting and his intuitive sense of comedy and timing. In the Ethel Merman tradition of brass and vamp, Kelly Roberts' Reno fires up the stage.
Hurley's Crocker combines scattiness with slickness in pure Porter voice. Juniper-Grey's sweet innocence provides a perfect foil to Roberts' Reno. Steve Galinec (investor Elisha Whitney) and Hope's pooch-loving mum, Mrs Evangeline Harcourt (Anita Davenport) play the older couple with just the right touch of foolish romance.
The ridiculous, the farcical and the hilarious cascade in the performances of the show's comical characters, Public Enemy Number 13, Moonface Martin (Ian Croker), his companion Erma Latour (Emma McCormack) and Jonathan Rush's brilliantly lampooned, Monty Python-esque, quintessential British aristocrat, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.
Disguise and deception, desire and delusion, folly and absurdity cook up the perfect recipe for hilarity and fun in this foot-tapping, tune-humming hit musical of the 1930s. After the Great Depression and with the prospect of another world war, Anything Goes offered the perfect antidote to the hard times. Canberra Philharmonic Society's revival is escapism at its best and a perfect chance to "let yourself go".
