Anything Goes

ANYTHING GOES OPERA AUSTRALIA/GORDON FROST SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE SEPT 2015 The SS American has arrived in town to dazzle and delight .With its galaxy of Australian theatrical legends /luminaries and its classic Cole Porter songs it enthralled Melbourne and now it is Sydney ‘s turn. The luxurious ocean liner is evoked in clear,clean elegant lines. There are several scene changes throughout with sections of scenery being ‘flown’ in, or slid, or reversed. Matt Scott’s lighting is splendid , handled with elegance and aplomb .The ‘ship’s orchestra’ under the dynamic baton of Peter Casey , is situated on the top level of the set and often partially hidden from view. Hallsworth’s snappy choreography is full of excitement and verve and performed with great panache. This is one of those old fashioned musicals with a flimsy plot and HUGE production numbers .There are perhaps some similarities to “Guys And Dolls “, “On The Town” and “South Pacific “.The giant cast does the show enormous credit .It is set on a luxurious ocean liner of the 1930’s and is (briefly) about the romantic entanglements of three main couples and other madcap escapades aboard. The show is obviously of its era and now is perhaps in certain respects very old fashioned and racist and the slapstick and bawdy humour has worn extremely thin but with the glorious Cole Porter melodies and the fact that it is given such a vibrant , enthusiastic performance who cares. It is Caroline O’Connor’s show as Reno Sweeney . The petite firecracker walks on , takes command and sets the theatre alight. She has a whale of a time and numerous stunning costume changes. She is bold, sassy and totally commanding and has the audience eating out of her hand with her dazzling singing and dancing and great comic timing . She is splendid in “ I get a kick out of you ‘ and her leading the mega production eponymous title number to take us to interval has the audience absolutely SCREAMING. Her ironic version of “Blow Gabriel Blow “( part revivalist meeting , part Madame Arcati perhaps ) also brings the house down. Her four ‘angels’ are also hot! ‘The Gypsy in Me’ , the duet with Lord Evelyn is wickedly delightful too. Almost unrecognizable , Todd Mckenney portrays Lord Evelyn Oakleigh as one of those silly ass foppish aristocratic aesthete British with floppy hair ,a cane and glasses , sort of a cross between Bunthorne and Lord Peter Wimsey perhaps. Wonderful fun. Alex Rathgeber as Billy Crocker is tremendous- we discover hidden depths in his torn character- a finely nuanced performance. Hope Harcourt was sweetly played by Clare Lyon .Her “Goodbye Little Dream Goodbye “ was beautifully done and I loved the Astair/Rogers romantic tribute for ‘All Through The Night” for her and Billy. And their ‘It’s De-Lovely “ in Act 1 sizzles too . And what a stunning wedding gown for the finale! Rubbery ,boneless Wayne Scott Kermond was in fine form as Moonface the silly clumsy gangster and his ‘Be Like The Bluebird’ is much fun. Blonde leggy bombshell Erma is delightfully played by Debora Krizak .She is a stunning ,sultry powerhouse pretending to be an air head gangster’s moll and brings the house down with the hot and steamy ‘Buddy Beware’ in Act2 . The rest of the ensemble were excellent too . It’s de lovely ... Running time 2 hours 20 (approx) including interval Anything Goes runs at the Sutherland Auditorium Sydney Opera House 8 Sept- 31 Oct 2015 Book & Lyrics by Cole Porter Original Book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse New Book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman Director Dean Bryant Choreographer Andrew Hallsworth Musical Director Peter Casey Set & Costume Adaption Dale Ferguson Lighting Designer Matt Scott Sound Designer Michael Waters Reno Sweeney Caroline O'Connor Lord Evelyn Oakleigh Todd McKenney Moonface Martin Wayne Scott Kermond Billy Crocker Alex Rathgeber Hope Harcourt Claire Lyon Evangeline Harcourt Carmen Duncan Erma Debora Krizak The Captain Gerry Connolly Elisha J. Whitney Bartholomew John Luke Aljin Abella John Nicholas Kong