[NEohioPAL] Berko review: ANYTHING GOES @ The Palace

[Roy Berko]

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 *ANYTHING GOES: dynamic dancing, fanciful farce and great music at The
Palace*



Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)



Cleveland may not have great athletic teams, but it is a pennant contender
when it comes to theatre.  The local area is one of the top subscription
sales stops on the Broadway series tour.  Often the shows start their treks
to other venues by opening here.  Such is the case with ANYTHING GOES,
which unleashed its 25 city tour last Friday at the Palace Theatre.



You’ve seen ANYTHING GOES before?  Well, maybe yes, maybe no, depends on
where and when you did the viewing.  No less than four official versions of
the Cole Porter show exist.  The original 1934 version, a 1962 revision,  and
a 1987 revival which further altered both the story and the score.   In
2011 another face-lift was done with songs cut, other reassigned to
different scenes and/or given to different characters to sing.  Porter
songs from other shows were added.  (The newest revival starred Sutton
Foster and Cleveland native Joel Grey.) It’s the latest version of the
script that is lighting up the stage at The Palace.



Interestingly, even before the show opened in New York in its original
form, changes had to be made.  The initial plot involved a bomb threat on
an ocean liner, a shipwreck, and fun and games on a desert island.  A
couple of weeks before the show’s opening a fire broke out on the cruise
ship SS Morro Castle, which caused the deaths of over one hundred
passengers.  Obviously, that was not a good time to use an ocean disaster
as a plot for a light-hearted musical.   So, the idea was scrapped and the
new story line developed.



Since shows of the day were escapist, not like the well-made musicals of
today where storylines drive the plot, and songs and dancing meld
flawlessly, making the change was no big deal.



ANYTHING GOES takes place on an ocean liner bound from New York to
London.  Handsome,
young Billy Crocker stows away in order to pursue his attempt to win over
his love, Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to uptight Brit, Lord Evelyn
Oakleigh.  Also on board is Moonface Martin who is Public Enemy #13, Reno
Sweeney, a nightclub singer and “evangelist,” two Chinese sinners, a
“minister,” four “angels,” an airheaded floosy, Crocker’s wealthy boss, and
lots sailors and passengers.



The story?  Billy pursues Hope, whose mother wants her to marry Oakleigh
for his money, while Reno pursues both Billy and Oakleigh, the passengers
want to sail with celebrities and are thrilled when they find out Public
Enemies # 1 (well, not really) and #13 (for real) are on board.



Get the idea that this is just fun stuff that requires no thinking and
little will be learned?  You are right.  And you are along for one heck of
a fun ride, while listening to such great Porter classics as *I Get a Kick
Out of You*, *You’re The Top*, *Easy to Love*, *It’s De-lovely*, *All
Through the Night*, and *The Gypsy in Me*.  Yes, all these are part of this
version of this script.

* *

But, that not all. The first act show closer, *Anything Goes,* explodes
into an exciting long tap dance number that brought the audience to its
feet.  To add to the enjoyment, early in Act Two *Blow Gabriel,
Blow*becomes a prayer meeting song and dance extravaganza that caused
so much
excitement that the show actually had to pause because the audience
wouldn’t stop clapping.



The touring show is dynamically directed and choreographed by Kathleen
Marshall.  She misses no chances to excite and delight the audience.



Tall, beautiful, talented Rachel York makes Reno into a singing and dancing
marvel.  This is one talented performer playing a role that appears to have
been written for her. The dynamic York played Fantine in LES MISERABLES on
Broadway, and Marguerite in the second Broadway version of THE SCARLET
PIMPERNEL.  In a one-on-one interview, York, who declares that she is “a
perfectionist,” shared that she finds that “touring, and living out of a
suitcase is going to be an adventure” as she is a new mother and will be
bringing her child on the tour. She finds that “every opening night in each
city is a major challenge. The different audiences and new venues present
an interesting challenge.”



Fred Applegate convulses the audience as Moonface Martin.  He is the
consummate stage comedian, with a mobile face and light-up-the-stage
presence.  His version of *Friendship*, sung and mugged with York, is one
of the show’s many highlights.



Leading man handsome Erich Bergen has the right boy next door presence,
sings and acts well, but appears a little dance challenged, finessing some
of his moves.



Alex Finke makes for an adorable Hope, Sandra Shipley is properly uptight
as her mother, and Edward Staudenmayer is a total delight as Lord Oakleigh.
Dennis Kelley, makes for fun, as Eisha Whitney, Billy’s near blind boss.



*CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  ANYTHING GOES is a total delight and a must see!  You’ll
come out of the theatre thinking of the show that “It’s De-lovely,” that “I
Get a Kick Out of You” because “You’re The Top,” and so “Easy To Love.”   *



Tickets for ANYTHING GOES which runs through October 14 at the Palace
Theatre, can be ordered by calling 216-241-6000 or going to
www.playhousesquare.org.


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