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A CurtainUp Review
Anything Goes
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In olden days a glimpse of stocking, Was looked on as something shocking, But now, God knows, Anything goes.—Reno Sweeney |
Rebecca York and cast members
(Photo: Joan Marcus)
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To all those contemporary composers and lyricists whose shows are about mental illness, witches, and depravity, please note. There's nothing wrong with entertainment for its own sake. Anything Goes is still the top.
The national tour of the Roundabout's Tony-winning and audience-pleasing production is docked at Washington's Kennedy Center until July 7, 2013, before moving on to Toronto, Atlanta, Portland, Seattle and more. (For details, go to anythinggoesontour.com) What propels this production is Kathleen Marshall's choreography. Sharp, inventive and yet redolent of those wonderful dance numbers we know from Fred Astaire and from Busby Berkeley movies — the nonchalant kick to the side, the diamond-shaped configurations of groups of dancers as well as fast-paced tap dances that click as the precise ensemble moves in unison.
Heading the cast as Reno Sweeney is triple threat Rachel York, one of the most versatile musical comedy actresses around. Gorgeous to look at, she brings power and sass, presence and grace to all her numbers — from sedate foxtrot to breathtaking tap with many variations in between. With limbs that appear to go on forever and a facility with all the dance steps York gives the impression that she is having the time of her life. Without her, and there are a few scenes from which she is absent, the show sags a bit.
When first produced in 1934, in the wake of the Great Depression, lyricist Cole Porter (who attended Yale) had fun sending up the kind of Yale graduate, Eli Whitney ably handled by Dennis Kelly, who can never let go of his alma mater even after he has become an aged scion of Wall Street. His scene feels like a dated cliché. Ditto Edward Staudenmayer's Lord Evelyn Oakley in the Gypsy Song, but, hey, never mind a little leg-pulling. It does however slow the otherwise fast-moving musical's pace.
All the dancers are a delight to watch and the supporting cast particularly Fred Applegate as that old codger Moonface Martin and Joyce Chittick as his moll, are fine but in no way do they outshine Reno. She's terrific!
For details about the book and a song list, see Elyse Sommer's review of the Broadway Production .
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Anything Goes Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Original book by P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse New book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman Director/Choreographer: Kathleen Marshall Cast: Rachel York(Reno Sweeney), Fred Applegate (Moonface Martin), Josh Franklin (Billy Crocker), Edward Staudenmayer (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Alexe Finke(Hope Harcourt), Joyce Chittick (Erma), Chuck Wagner(Captain), Jeff Brooks (Purser), Vincent Rodriguez III (Luke), Marcus Shane (John), Dennis Kelly (Elisha Whitney), Sandra Shipley (Evangeline Harcourt). With Sarah Agar, Sara Andreas, Jeremy Benton, Jacqueline Burtney, Audrey Cardwell, Jan Leigh Herndon, Kristie Kerwin, Gary Lindemann, Sean McKnight, Marla McReynolds, Michael Milton, Tony Neidenbach, Bobby Pestka, Courtney Rottenberger, Vanessa Sonon, Ryan Steer, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden, Aaron Umsted, Mackenzie Warren, Sean Watkins. Scenic Design, Derek McLane; costume design, Martin Pakledinaz; lighting design, Howell Binkley; Sound Design, Brian Ronan and Keith Caggiano. Anything Goes Orchestra, conducted by Jay Alger. Elyse Sommer's Book Summary: Boozy, Ivy League tycoon Elisha Whitney's assistant Billy Crocker ends up a stowaway on his boss's cruise ship when he discovers his lost love debutante Hope Harcourt is aboard and about to marry a rich Brit in order to restore the Harcourt's finances. Also aboard is Billy's friend sexy Reno Sweeny, evangelist turned nightclub singer and Minister Dobson who's on board with two of his converts. When Billy mistakenly identifies Dobson to F.B.I. agents as Moonface Martin Public Enemy No 13, the real Moonface and his friend Erma, thank him by giving him their friend's unused ticket and room. The problem is that this ties Billy to Moonface's non-show friend, Snake Eyes Johnson, Public Enemy No 1. So Billy must dodge the law as well as his boss for the rest of the trip with various disguises , even as he tries to convince Hope to be his love instead of the rich Brit's. After various hilarious but failed schemes (including a spell in the ship's brig for Billy and Moonshine) Billy and Hope are a pair again, Evelyn ends up with Reno, and Hope's mom ends her money worries by marrying Whitney-- who retains his fortune thanks to Billy's failure to execute a stock selling assignment. re a delight to watch and the supporting cast particularly Fred Applegate as that old codger Moonface Martin and Joyce Chittick as his moll, are fine but in no way do they outshine Reno. She's terrific! Anything Goes Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Original book by P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse New book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman Director/Choreographer: Kathleen Marshall Cast: Rachel York(Reno Sweeney), Fred Applegate (Moonface Martin), Josh Franklin (Billy Crocker), Edward Staudenmayer (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Alexe Finke(Hope Harcourt), Joyce Chittick (Erma), Chuck Wagner(Captain), Jeff Brooks (Purser), Vincent Rodriguez III (Luke), Marcus Shane (John), Dennis Kelly (Elisha Whitney), Sandra Shipley (Evangeline Harcourt). With Sarah Agar, Sara Andreas, Jeremy Benton, Jacqueline Burtney, Audrey Cardwell, Jan Leigh Herndon, Kristie Kerwin, Gary Lindemann, Sean McKnight, Marla McReynolds, Michael Milton, Tony Neidenbach, Bobby Pestka, Courtney Rottenberger, Vanessa Sonon, Ryan Steer, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden, Aaron Umsted, Mackenzie Warren, Sean Watkins. Scenic Design, Derek McLane Costume design, Martin Pakledinaz Lighting design, Howell Binkley Sound Design, Brian Ronan and Keith Caggiano Anything Goes Orchestra, conducted by Jay Alger. Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one intermission. Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, DC. 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; www.kennedy-center.org. From June 11 to July 7, 2013. Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Matinees Saturday and Sunday and July 3, matinee at 1:30 p.m. No performances on July 4. Tue at 8:00pm, Wed to Saturday 8:00pm, Wed, Sat Sun 2pm. Tickets are $25 to $95. Reviewed by Susan Davidson, June 13, 2013. |
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