Review: ANYTHING GOES, Kilworth House Theatre
A fun, frothy production in a beautiful setting
There's a cruise ship in the grounds of Kilworth House this summer. The ship’s grand upper deck, with its gently smoking cowl vents and sweeping staircases, sits nestled among the woods, and is the setting for Kilworth's annual musical production, which this year is Anything Goes.
First setting sail on Broadway in 1934, then crossing the ocean to the West End in 1935, Anything Goes was originally a lighthearted tonic for Depression-era audiences and remains much loved today, with multiple revivals, including a recent West End stint led by Sutton Foster.
Cole Porter's songs are irresistible, from the romantic swing of “It's De- Lovely” to the fast-paced jazz of “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and the witty rapid-fire compliments in list song “You're the Top”, and Kilworth's 12-piece orchestra led by Rick Coates gives them all a lush sounding Big Band treatment.
The book, originally by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton, then heavily revised by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, and finally updated by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman, is a classic farce filled with hidden identities, terrible disguises and romantic misunderstandings. The plot is somehow both flimsy and convoluted, with a large cast of zany characters including gangsters, stockbrokers and debutantes, and while it's not always the easiest to follow, the jokes come fast enough to distract from any issues.
Photo credit: Fox Corporate Photography
Richard Carson gives a slick, charming performance as Billy Crocker, the junior broker and stowaway trying to lure Hope Harcourt (a sweet-voiced Megan Gardiner) away from her older, odder fiancé. Tom Hopcroft as the fiancé, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, milks the humour in the role for all it's worth, while Dougie Carter and Sophie Naglik are entertaining as gangster and moll Moonface and Erma, and Thomas Sutcliffe is likeable as Billy's blustering boss.
The show's best moments, though, go to former evangelist and current nightclub singer Reno Sweeney, played here by Hamilton alum Emily-Mae, with sultry vocals that are well-suited to songs like “I Get A Kick Out Of You”. Her Reno is slinky and alluring, without much of the playfulness often seen in the role, and as such it's a little difficult to get on board with her eventual romantic pairing, but she tackles the big pieces like the title track and Act One closer with aplomb.
Everything about the show's design works well with the outdoor environment, from Philip Witcomb’s revolving Art Deco ship bedrooms to his costumes of bright white sailor suits and heavily sequinned dresses, which look especially wonderful when catching lighting designer Jason Taylor's vibrant red nightclub lighting during “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”. Chris Whybrow once again proves that crystal clear sound design is possible even in external venues, and director/choreographer Lee Proud makes full use of the different levels of the stage and the tap dancing talents of the ensemble.
If you're looking for a fun and frothy way to spend a summer evening, with a dose of traditional glamour and old-fashioned humour, then Anything Goes will most likely float your boat.
Anything Goes at Kilworth House Theatre until 2 August
Photo Credit: Fox Corporate Photography
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