By Doug Iden
Just sit back and enjoy an old-fashioned musical featuring comedic hijinks, mistaken identities, romance, and many well-known, hummable songs as Anything Goes cruises into the newly renovated Corbett Theater on the Northern Kentucky University campus.
PLOT AND CHARACTERS
Originally produced in 1934, this classic musical comedy has been updated numerous times for modern sensibilities but still maintains the basic screwball story with a series of zany characters who chew up the scenery. Billy Crocker (James Lindeman) a stockbroker working for Elisha Whitney (Jathan Briscoe) spots his true love Hope Harcourt (Marlo D’Ascenzo) about to embark on an ocean liner and decides to chase her as a stowaway. The problem is that Hope is engaged to a foppish Englishman Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Keenan Deaton). Billy meets old girlfriend Reno Sweeney (an evangelist turned night club performer played delightfully by Kristin Kaufman) who still longs for Billy but agrees to help him woo Hope.
To further complicate the twisty plot, Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin (played with frenetic zeal by Cody Combs) and his paramour Emma (Liv Gudmundsson) escaping capture from the FBI pose as a minister and his assistant. Moonface, Emma and Reno all conspire to hide Billy from the ship’s officers with various absurd costumes while reuniting him with Hope who is having second romantic thoughts about Billy.
However, Hope’s mother Evangeline (Gabby Casto) is determined to consummate the marriage with the Englishman to bolster her own flagging finances. Lord Oakleigh is also having second thoughts and is intrigued by Reno. Two pickpockets Spit (Ray Garcia) and Dippy (Isaiah Burton) add to the chaos. But, in true musical comedy fashion, the labyrinthine plot unfurls with the right couples ending up together.
THEMES
Mostly, this is a throwback musical full of fun and entertainment. However, it does address some issues, mostly through comedy. It is a spoof of Warner Brothers 1930’s gangster movies but also touches on alcoholism, class conscientiousness, the corrupting impact of big money, phony evangelism, and undeserved celebrity.
MUSICAL NUMBERS
The show features eight Cole Porter classic songs bristling with witty lyrics, double-entendres, and innuendo. In later versions, some of the songs come from other Porter shows. Some songs are forgettable. The show opens with Reno singing of her unrequited love for Billy with “I Get a Kick out of You”. Kaufman as Reno steals the show. Channeling Ethel Merman (the original Reno), Kaufman combines great singing and good dancing with a charismatic performance. She is also stunning in the title song, “Friendship” and the gospel-like “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”. You cannot top “You’re the Top” with Reno and Billy. Lindeman (Billy) is a little uneven in his singing but excels in duets with Hope (D’Ascenzo) with “Easy to Love” and “It’s De-lovely”. They sing a duet to the undervalued “All Through the Night” accompanied by the balletic dancing of four sets of sailors and Reno’s Angels (Kelly Messer, Ella Cooper, Mollie Tagher and Emmarie Brewer).
Several comedic songs include Moonface (Combs) trying to philosophize with “Be Like the Bluebird”, Deaton (Lord Oakleigh) spoofing a bullfight scene while wooing Reno in “The Gypsy in Me” and Emma (Gudmundsson) seducing sailors in “Buddy Beware”. Those three plus Briscoe, Garcia, Burton and Casto add deliciously to the mayhem. Music Director Jamey Strawn conducts a flawless orchestra.
CREATIVE and TECHNICAL
Directors/choreographers Genevieve and Maggie Perino maximize performances with good comedic timing. There are several big tapdancing production numbers to “Anything Goes”, “Blow Gabriel Blow” and the finale with waves of singers and dancers. Several other songs include “shadow dancing” to set a mood. The set design by Eric Barker is simple but effective. The opening scene is a bar but then another curtain opens and we see the superstructure of an ocean liner with an upper deck and stairs on both sides. Costumes by Ronnie Chamberlain and wigs/hair/ makeup designer Missy White vaguely represent the 1930’s with a variety of outfits include sailors’ uniforms, formal and casual wear for the sea, wedding gowns and oceans of other dress. Costumes as disguises become part of the plot.
OVERALL
This is a perfect venue for NKU SOTA with high-energy, enthusiastic, and wildly comedic performances. Complete with Porter’s iconic songs, the show is strong in acting, singing, and dancing. So, grab your Dramamine, suntan lotion and scuba gear and sail away to Anything Goes at NKU.
TICKETS TO ANYTHING GOES
Anything Goes runs through November 23rd , 2024. Purchase tickets online HERE or by calling the box office at (859) 572-5464. For assistance you can also email the boxoffice@nku.edu if yoy have any questions.
