Anything Goes

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This was posted on Peter Kemps Web Site...

Anything Goes: Mountain District Musical Society Directed by Paul Watson.

Musical Director Chris Shute

A light hearted musical with plenty of songs, pretty girls and tap dances to
keep the toes a tapping and the songs acoming.

MDMS cast and company excelled themselves with this production. Other
musical companies should look to their laurels with MDMS standard fast
coming up.

A well set stage opening in a New York bar with the bar and to the rear two
toilet doors that when the next scene change to on board the SS American the
doors became cabin doors together with the deck of the ship. Very smooth
changes of scenery from a night club to on deck, adjacent cabins state
rooms, ship's night club the ship's brig, and back to the deck.

The story is set primarily aboard the SS American sailing form New York to
England and the events happening to the passengers. There is Public enemy No
13 gangster Moonface Martin, his girl (moll?) Irma, a wealthy Debutante Hope
(the heroine) and her mother Evangaline Harcourt, a nightclub and gospel
singer Reno Sweeney and her angels, Purity, Chastity, Charity and Virtue, a
wealthy New York businessman Elisha Whitney and his stowaway assistant Billy
Crocker (the hero)

Billy stows away to recapture Hope's love but she is engaged to Lord Evelyn
Oakleigh and plans to marry during the voyage. This leads to a lot of fun,
excitement, music, songs and of course tap dancing.

The star of the show is Reno Sweeney first in love with Billy then falling
for someone else but retains her friendship with Billy and helps him in his
quest. Adrienne George as Reno gave an absolutely wonderful, entertaining
and professional performance and the sound broke down she carried on in true
show biz style as if nothing happened. Her voice projection was so good I
personally would have preferred hearing her natural voice unimpaired by the
mike for the rest of the performance. Her acting skills equalled her singing
and her expressions were a delight.

Her friend Billy Crocker was also given a delightful and natural performance
by Jonathon Guthrie-Jones. Jonathon has a very good stage projection worked
well with Adrienne and was perfectly partnered with Ruth Bishop, Billy's
expected Hope Harcourt. Jonathon's scenes with both Adrienne and Ruth were a
delight and with Adrian Carr (Moonface Martin) were the essence of comedy.

Adrian Carr captured the character of Moonface Martin Public Enemy No 13
with ease and gave a delightful and comic performance. Adrian gave the
feeling that he enjoyed the role and speaking to him after the show he
certainly did.

Ryan Jacobs was Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, Hope's affianced although as the story
progressed was he? Ryan was a perfect P. G. Wodehouse wit of a Lord. Ryan
did ply the role a little over the top but it is the role that should be
played that way so Ryan caught the essence of the character.

Sonia Agjee was Evangaline Harcourt, Hope's mother who preferred to see Hope
marry Lord Evelyn so she (Evangaline) could live as she wished to be
accustomed... Sonia gave a good interpretation of such a character adding to
the standard of the production.

Warren Dorling was Billy's boss Elisha Whitney. Warren captured the role
with ease and some of his scenes such as losing his glasses were a sheer
delight.

Moonface's girl Erma was played by Katie-Jane Amey. Katie-Jane has a good
comic sense and captured the character of Erma as envisaged.

A very entertaining evening with a high standard production well directed by
Paul Watson with the music direction also of a high standard by Chris Shute

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Here is what John Gunn had to say about Anything Goes ...

MOUNTAIN DISTRICT MUSICAL SOCIETY,
“ANYTHING GOES” by Cole Porter, Directed by Paul Watson,
MD. Chris Chute, Choreography, Bianca S. Milewski.
Reviewed by John Gunn, 10/6/2005 for 3CR’s “Curtain Up” – Sundays at One 855AM.


The ever popular, song filled, toe tapping musical “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter hit the stage at the Karralyka Theatre on Friday night and what a delight to see how Mountain District Musical Society have progressed since I saw their production of “The Pyjama Game “ several years back.

A solid composite ship board setting by Mark Setford, a fine set of principals, well-drilled dance numbers choreographed by Bianca S. Milewski that sensibly didn’t put too much strain on the ensemble and with MD Chris Shute at the helm an orchestra with verve - this for me was their best production that I have seen to date. OK there were a few hiccups such as an over zealous fog machine that made for a rather misty crossing of the Atlantic, some of the costumes looked a little tired and several out of period along with some limp today type hairstyles but …the energy and fun generated by the cast compensated for these.

Under Paul Watson’s sound and tight direction the standouts in the cast were, Adrienne George as a very sassy and vocally strong Reno Sweeney, Jonathon Guthrie-Jones (who seems to get better each time you see him) had charm and mischief as Billy Crocker, Adrian Carr was a wonderful Moonface Martin No 13 on the wanted list – good comedy and all-round vocal skills, Katie-Jane Amey (looking like a pint sized Ann Miller) struck the right note in the comedy stakes and her number ‘Buddy Beware’ was a highlight, Warren Dorling gave a polished performance in his role of Elisha Whitney; yep, 5 excellent principals with good musical comedy skills and who knew their craft.

Vocally strong but not quite in the same category as the other principals were the attractive Ruth Bishop as Hope Harcourt, but I feel that this role doesn’t have quite the opportunities that the others have – whilst affianced to one and loving another can make for a rather melancholic character – a few smiles would help; Ryan Jacobs worked hard as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh and his “Gypsy In Me’ pleased the audience. I can’t name all the featured roles and ensemble, however all worked well and uniformly and appeared to be enjoying their roles.

One point I think all directors must be clear about – if you mic’ the musical numbers, do you mic’ the dialogue?…..I think yes, as the words which tell the story should have the same energy levels – a couple of lines did drop away on occasion and it is a small theatre for a musical.

To sum up Paul Watson and company have given us a nice bouncy and fun filled production, Mountain District can only build from here. “Anything Goes” has another week to run at the Karralyka Theatre, Ringwood - a sound production of a fine show with a great Cole Porter score – songs such as ‘I Get a Kick out of You’, ‘You’re the Top’, ‘Friendship’, ‘It’s De-Lovely’, ‘Blow, Gabriel Blow’ and of course ‘Anything Goes’ and some elegant and toe tapping dance sequences.

Bookings on 9757 6859 and yes, I did enjoy it!

That's Two for Two!!!! Word is it is booking very fast this week as it is final week, please use the number above and get your seats in!

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AND THREE FROM THREE!!!! RARE IN THIS INDUSTRY TO GET THREE GOOD REVIEWS!!!!!!

Check out what Luke Taylor had to say about Anything Goes...

Presented by: Mountain District Musical Society
Date Reviewed: 10th June, 2005
Venue: Karralyka Theatre


Reviewer: Luke Taylor

Anything Goes currently playing at the Karralyka Theatre is a show that needs to be seen to be believed. Anything Goes is undoubtedly one of the classic musical theatre comedies of our time.
This production hits the stage full steam ahead and continues to pick up speed though at times you can be forgiven for thinking it might have hit a wave, in the next breath it returns to smooth sailing and calmer waters! With a truly fantastic score, clever and witty scripts and a setting that makes for a hilarious comedy of errors you'd be hard pushed to go wrong, or would you?
I must start by saying that if it's a dramatic, deeply moving show you're looking for then you've missed the boat because as the show's director Paul Watson says, Anything Goes is “essentially a frothy bit of fun and dance” and that my musical theatre friends is reason enough to see this production. This production doesn't try to take itself seriously and why would you when you have at its helm a selection of the theatre circuit’s newest and funniest performers!

The show opens with one of Amateur theatre's much loved audition songs in ‘I Get a Kick Out Of You’ and introduces us to the vocal stylings of Adrienne George in the role of Reno Sweeney. It's clear from the get go that this is a ballsy character with an equally ballsy voice to back it. As is the case with some of the principals in this production it can take a bit at first to warm to their performance but this young lady proves she can not only hold her own but everyone else’s. But what's a musical if its leading lady doesn't have her own handsome and debonair leading man. Enter Billy Crocker played perfectly by Jonathan Guthrie-Jones. Jonathan is, in my opinion, one to watch and the ladies I'm sure will agree that it's hard not to watch him as he commands the stage. His quirky yet smooth crooner like interpretation of Crocker has trace elements of Jerry Lewis' comedic timing with a voice unsurpassed in this production.

But wait there's more, he's chasing another beauty Hope Harcourt, played by Ruth Bishop. Unfortunately Ruth is a perfect vehicle to demonstrate one of my pet peeves with this production ¨C is it possible to 'over-choreograph' an actor to the point where it seems every word in its literal sense is represented by a movement, gesture or leg kick? You could be forgiven for asking this several times throughout the show, which is not to say that I wasn't pleasantly surprised by Bishop's voice on several occasions, it's simply to question why when you have a great song and a great performer you can't simply let them sing without choreographing their every beat. While we're on the topic of timing it would be remiss on me not to turn the spotlight to Adrian Carr. Who's Adrian Carr you ask ¨C well I'm sure you'll soon be asking rather 'where has this guy been hiding'!? Carr very quickly steers this show past the icebergs that could have turned it from being the SS American to the Titanic. He plays Moonface Martin ¨C gangster and part-time craps instructor. Congratulations Carr, this show is yours, you had the audience not only eating out of the palm of your hand with your comedic brilliance but walking away tweeting and singing Tra La Tra La Tra La!

Notable mention must go to your sidekick Erma (Katie-Jane Amey) who got through as many sailors as she did gags without missing a beat. Another character you can't help but be entertained by is Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Ryan Jacobs) whose endearing and farcical spin on Oakleigh left even the most serious audience members chuckling. Another star of the show that can't go without mention is the set. Setting a show on a ship and therefore in one setting for the entire show could easily have left the audience bored, not with this show. A great set, brilliantly lit to highlight its versatility, with a clever use of its many doors used for various entry/exit points meant with the exception of one or two unorchestrated scene changes the show kept its pace.

Which brings me to the orchestra, led by Chris Shute, who were a non-obtrusive accompaniment to a great cast of singers was much appreciated. Many MD's nowadays seem to want to drown out the cast to demonstrate their new arrangements or variations of the show, here however a beautiful harmony was found. With the opening night usual hiccups the go wrong we heard the mics drop out and here and there which brings me to another pet peeve of why in such a small intimate space as The Karralyka we need to mic performers when they demonstrated that they are clearly audible without being mic'd!? If it's sound you’re after then look no further than the ensemble. A well directed ensemble whose choreographic limitations were brilliantly disguised through the wonderful choreography of Bianca Milewski. A quick shout out to the quartet whose harmonies were executed seemlessly ¨C good work fellas!

As a whole the show was a great night of entertainment not to be missed ¨C incidentally blink and you will miss it as apparently they're only doing six shows, so book now!! It's well worth the trip to see this Cole Porter classic brought to life by MDMS, just remember to take your sea-sickness pills before boarding!

[Buff]

Congratulations on the reviews - they're excellent. You must all be very pleased. ;D

"Anything Goes" is a fun show. I was in a production in 2002 and loved it.

Buff

[ryan]

A little over the top? I'm offended....
I'm completely over the top!!

[Buff]

The guy who played Lord Oakleigh in the production I was in was over the top too, especially during "Gypsy in Me".

Any dance breaks looked like a cross of John Cleese's "Ministry of Silly Walks" routine and an orangutan having a fit. It was never the same 2 shows in a row, and poor Reno had such a hard time not laughing. The cast would go to the side of the stage just to see what he would do each show.

Buff

[Talissa]

Ryan darling, no one could possibly ever be more over the top than you See you tomorrow night! Chookas!

[Talissa]

I went to see MDMS' Anything Goes last Saturnight, closing night, and normally wouldn't write a review after this long, but have been threatened with death by tenor, so had better get something written. Let's see how my memory is.

Overall, it was an extremely enjoyable show. I hadn't seen Anything Goes before, so was most amused to see places where it had been heavily influenced by certain pieces, and places where it directly influenced others. And there were a few songs I didn't know were from the show at all. But as would be expected with Porter, a fantastic piece.

The MDMS set was brilliant, and really well used, with doors and stairs allowing for far more interesting entrances and exits than the usual left and right, even if the size of the set did mean there wasn't as much space for the cast. But this was only noticeable in the full-cast numbers.

The lead performers were all fantastic. Jonathon Guthrie-Jones was a very sweet, charismatic Billy Crocker, who acted the part beautifully and was a joy to watch. He played wonderfully opposite Ruth Bishop, who was a gorgeous Hope Harcourt, even if she was a bit tall for Lord Evelyn. The heights of the leads was used very nicely, though, with the two main couples at the end matching very nicely as far as height goes.

Lord Evelyn, played by Ryan Jacobs, though short, was a bundle of energy, and really got the audience's attention in Gypsy in Me. Adrienne George as Reno, though, was the star, with a delightful belting voice, and strong presence. Another crowd favourite was Adrian Carr, who was hilarious as Moonface Martin.

'It's De-Lovely' and 'Blow Gabriel, Blow' were two other particularly memorable songs, and 'I Get a Kick Out of You' was an example of some clever choreography that filled the show, using the capabilities of the cast well.

Well done Paul, Ryan and MDMS, and sorry I couldn't remember everything properly and didn't get this up sooner!

[jackjackjack]

admin said:

And there were a few songs I didn't know were from the show at all.

I know this reply must seem like a time warp, but I've been catching up a little and saw that comment. You should know that many of the songs currently in Anything Goes (and other Porter musicals) are not actually "from" it. For example, It's De-Lovely (from Down in the Depths), Easy to Love (Born to Dance) and Friendship (Du Barry Was a Lady). Goodbye Little Dream Goodbye may or may not have been written for Anything Goes but it wasn't in the original production.

James