 When it comes to love, Anything Goes in Cole Porter’s
classic slapstick musical. This quest for love takes place on the high seas as
Billy Crocker stows himself away on a cruise ship to try to stop debutante Hope
Harcourt from marrying quirky Englishman Evelyn Oakleigh. Meanwhile,
hot-to-trot celebrity Reno Sweeney would be willing to take Bobby if Hope
doesn’t want him, but Reno is a good enough friend to help Billy make his
dreams come true with Hope. Throw in Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin, and
maybe Billy’s got a shot.
Coronado School of the Arts opens their 2008-2009 season
with this one. The production features Maddie White as Reno Sweeney,
with Maddie using impressive vocals that capture the time period and enthusiasm
of the score, as well as strong tapping skills and a million-dollar smile. Travis
Wright is a humble but determined Billy who isn’t above playing a few
tricks to win Hope’s hand. Including some disguises, to the chagrin of Mrs.
Harcourt’s pooch). Taylor West is the nice girl Hope with some equally
nice vocals as seen in their duet It’s De-Lovely.
Their comic sidekicks include David Gibbs as
not-so-scary Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin who gamely depicts a little
bluebird. Darienne Orlansky is a hit as Moonface’s floosy assistant who
proves helpful in Billy’s disguises (she can get a sailor’s suit in a snap). Jordan
Bunshaft gives the character of Eli Whitney, Billy’s boss, more character
and comedy than usual as he strives for riches and for Hope’s haughty mom
(Francesca Fromang). And Ben Silbert is a hoot as Evelyn Oakleigh,
the apparently naïve Englishman with a passion for American cliché’s revealing
his scandalous history to Reno in an exceptional rendition of The Gypsy in
Me.
Dr. Barbara Wolf
directs this fun classic with Shane Simmons leading the live orchestra
through such immortal songs as You’re the Top, It’s De-Loevely,
and Friendship. Set Designer Susan Scharpf put together a nice
cruise ship for it all to take place on. Tiffany Bagg choreographs the
cast, led by Reno and her Angels, who shine in the numbers of big dancing
fanfare, from Blow, Gabriel Blow to the big number that captures the
spirit, and the title, of the show – Anything Goes.
Performed October 23 - 25, 2008.
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Billy Crocker: Travis Wright
Reno Sweeney: Maddie White
Hope Harcourt: Taylor West
Lord Evelyn Oakleigh: Ben Silbert
Evangeline Harcourt: Francesca Fromang
Eli Whitney: Jordan Bunshaft
Erma: Darienne Orlansky
Moonface Martin: David Gibbs
Purity: Mady Maio
Chastity: Marielle Bardos
Charity: Julia Karis
Virtue: Maddy Bersin
Girl solo: Sarah Sabesky
Boy solo: Dakota Ringer
Luke: Geordy Shallan
John: Zachary Bushaft
Ship's captain: Gabe Lazard
Ship's purser: Alec Oval
Fred: Geordy Shallan
Lady Fair Male soloists:
Ross Warren
Geordy Shallan
Alec Oval
Dakota Ringer
Lady Fair quartet:
Michelle Pigott
Elise Napier
Cierra Bartelt
Hannah Kornfeld
F.B.I. Agent: Dillon Evans
Henry T. Dobson: Ross Warren
Passenger #1: Olivia O'Connor
Passenger #2: Krista Feallock
Passenger #3: Elise Napier
Sailor #1: Ross Warren
Sailor #2: Dakota Ringer
Reporter #1: Michelle Pigott
Reporter #2: Krista Feallock
Photographer: Dakota Ringer
Cheeky: Chloe White
Featured Dancers:
Julia Karis
Maddy Bersin
Mady Maio
Marielle Bardos
Elise Napier
Michelle Pigott
Passengers:
Annelise Pell
Zoe Smith
Diane Terry
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