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The current show at Turtle Lane Playhouse by The Alexander
Children's Theatre School is Cole Porter's 1934 musical, "Anything
Goes". Originally written for Ethel Merman, the show's book was
revised in 1962 and again in 1987. Director Sharon Bisantz uses the
1987 version and creates an energetic musical with over 30 cast
members. The show takes place in the 1930's aboard the luxury liner
SS America sailing from New York to London with a group of unusual
passengers. The story of boy, Billy Crocker who loves girl, Hope
Harcourt, who is engaged to wealthy British suitor, Lord Evelyn, who
is pursued by singing and dancing evangelist, Reno Sweeney, is the
basic storyline of the show. Throw in boy's heavy drinking boss,
girl's domineering mother, Public enemy # 13, his sexy gun moll,
Reno's 3 fallen Angels, the captain, his sailors, a minister with
his 2 converts from China and fellow passengers plus topnotch
choreography by Annita Brockney, Lenni Kmiec and Sharon
with musical direction by Bobbie Hoffmann and you have the
ingredients for a fun filled show.
These kids show off their singing, acting and dancing talents." I
Get a Kick Out of You" opens this version of the show as Reno puts
the moves on Billy who only has eyes for Hope. The dance numbers by
choreographers, Annita, Lenni and Sharon include tap, tango, the
Charleston, the soft shoe and many others. The two show stopping
numbers are the tap dancing "Anything Goes" which closes Act 1 by
Annita and the gospel revival number "Blow Gabriel Blow" by Lenni.
Music director Bobbie uses digital music sequencing and
orchestration for this show (which she also does on Broadway)
She obtains beautiful harmonies from the cast in the group numbers
"Bon Voyage", Public Enemy Number One", the title song, "Blow
Gabriel Blow" and All Through the Night". The duets and trios sound
wonderful, too. The multitude of gorgeous 1930's costumes are by
Richard Itczak with lighting and set design by John MacKenzie..
Stage manager Mariagrazia LaFauci keeps things moving smoothly all
night long.
Gillian Gordon is fabulous as Reno Sweeney. She wears a long red
wig, gives her lines a sultry lilt who delivers her one liners
perfectly. Gillian is a triple threat performer whose singing,
dancing and acting shines all night long. She dances up and down the
staircase during "You're the Top", tap dances up a storm with
her Angels during "Anything Goes" (The three outstanding Angels are
wonderfully played by Stephanie Malis, Terilyn Eisenhauer and Zoe
Stephens-North) Gillian does a revival type dance with the chorus in
"Blow, Gabriel Blow" and does a tango in "The Gypsy in Me" with Lord
Evelyn. Paul Kmiec is fantastic as Billy Crocker. He has a voice
that will knock your socks off. His marvelous tenor voice is used in
"You're the Top", "It's Delovely" and the romantic ballads "Easy to
Love" and "All Through the Night". Paul wears many disguises to
avoid being caught by the purser including pretending to be one of
the sailors. He is an excellent dancer and shows off his prowess in
a Fred and Ginger type dance to "Easy to Love" with Hope and he also
taps in "Anything Goes". The dancing sailors are well played by Matt
Morin and Chris Burgess and they stop the show with the angels
and Erma in her "Buddie Beware" number in the second act. Two other
strong performers are Cam Reid as the captain and Lauren Jackson as
the purser.
The beautiful Kailey Prior plays Hope, the fiancée of Evelyn who is
really in love with Billy. She gives this ingénue the needed
backbone to get what she wants. Her wonderful soprano voice soars in
the duets with Paul, the upbeat "It's De-Lovely", the poignant
ballad, "Easy to Love", her solo, the touching "Goodbye Little Dream
Goodbye" and the plaintive duet, "All Through the Night". Ben
Jackson who is 14 years old is a hoot as the prim and proper, Lord
Evelyn who misunderstands the American terminology of words
including step on it, hot pants. He has an excellent British accent
and gets to show off his strong baritone voice and the bawdy side of
the character in "The Gypsy in Me" done with Gillian where they
tango together. Two other scene stealers are Ethan Higgins as
Moonface and Tricia Whitlock as Erma. He is wonderful as
this comic hoodlum in his stage debut. "Friendship" and "Be Like the
Bluebird" are laugh out loud moments. Tricia is a hoot as this tough
talking broad and her soft shoe song "Buddie Beware" with the
sailors and angels is a show stopper. Hope's snobby mother is well
played by Melissa Allen who makes her many funny one liners hit pay
dirt while Billy's hard drinking near-sighted boss, is played by
Matt Robertson who sings the Yale crew song. Two other comic
characters are the two Chinese gamblers who cheat at poker played by
Heidi Novack and Ellen Boyle. Kudos to everyone who make this a show
to be proud of.
ANYTHING GOES (15 to 17 January, 2010)
The Alexander Children's Theatre School
Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose Street, Newton,MA
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