In the Narrows Community Theater production
of "Anything Goes," there are many actors one would
not find in a Broadway musical. There are old people and young
people, thin actors and heavy actors, folks who have impressive
resumes and those who have little experience. But thanks to director-choreographer
John Sheridan’s wonderful navigation, this "Anything Goes"
sets sail on balmy seas and rides the crest to arrive safely
at port.
A two-act musical comedy with music and lyrics by Cole Porter,
"Anything Goes," has a nautical theme that had to be
modified when the SS Morro Castle sank off the coast of New Jersey
and made a play about a group of eccentric characters involved
in a shipwreck appear to be in bad taste.
Producer Vinton Freedley then asked Russel Crouse and Howard
Lindsay to revise the script originally written by Guy Bolton
and P.G. Wodehouse. The resulting story dealt with the interactions
of high society and criminals aboard a transatlantic liner.
The revised version opened at the Alvin Theatre on Nov. 21, 1934
and ran for 420 performances. The musical introduced such Porter
standards as "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You’re
the Top," "It’s Delovely" and the title song,
"Anything Goes." But the show’s popularity was also
due in no small measure to the trio of Ethel Merman as nightclub
singer Reno Sweeney, William Glaxton as her friend, stockbroker
Billy Crocker, and Victor Moore as Moonface Martin, Public Enemy
No. 13.
In the Narrows Community Theater production, George Tsalikis
plays Billy, Dawn Barry Hansen plays Reno and Rob Fahn plays
Moonface Martin. It is a trio worthy of the original.
The plot is set in motion when Billy discovers that his old girlfriend,
Hope Harcourt (Kristen Florio), is onboard the same ship as Reno.
He then gets Moonface Martin to furnish him with the passport
and ticket of one of his cronies who failed to show up at boarding
time, so he can convince Hope not to marry her fiance, the wealthy
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Al Whidden).
Tsalikis is debonair, likable and has an engaging voice and manner.
Whidden is funny in a very uptight and proper way, while Fahn
is delicious and devilish as the sweetest criminal one would
ever want to meet. But it is Hansen who steals the show with
her powerful voice and feisty portrayal of the spirited Reno.
Whether Hansen is singing "Friendship" with Tsalikis
and Fahn, going solo with "I Get a Kick out of You"
or blowing the audience away with "Blow Gabriel Blow,"
she fills the stage with her exuberant presence.
"Anything Goes" has a large ensemble of ship personnel,
passengers and entertainers, all of whom sing, dance and generally
add to the frivolity and fun of the story. Director-choreographer
Sheridan has given the ensemble dance steps that are sufficiently
complicated to please the audience but not beyond the dancers’
capabilities. His performing experience with the likes of Ethel
Merman, Ruby Keeler and Angela Lansbury certainly shows.
Narrows Community Theater has a large stage to fill at St. Patrick’s
Auditorium and set designers Mickey Dillon, Mickey Sullivan and
Sheridan make good use of the space. They also have the benefit
of a curtain, which allows them to change scenes on one side
while action takes place on the other side.
A whole team assembled the costumes – suits and gowns, knickers
and uniforms – an impressive array that gives the show color
and sets the show’s place in time.
It’s hard to go wrong with "Anything Goes." But if
the show seems unsinkable, it is not without its demands. Narrows
Community Theater’s "Anything Goes" assembles all the
talent and energy that make everything go right.
Narrows Community Theater’s production
of "Anything Goes" has performances on April 16 at
8 pm and April 17 at 3 pm at St. Patrick’s Auditorium, located
at 97th Street and Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge. Tickets are $15
for adults and $10 for children and seniors. For reservations
and more information, call (718) 482-3173.
