Anything Goes (The Tab Operatic Society)

In the words of the song 'Friendship' this is just a perfect 'blendship' of a production from The Tab Operatic Society as an interesting combination of saints and sinners board the SS America bound for the UK. Much credit is due to those not out front, direction from Andy Poulton, choreography from Helen Kendrick, stage management from Lisa Bird (I did think the sliding doors revealing the cabins might be your nemesis but, you kept them under amazing control) and the on stage presence of the nattily dressed Nick Jeavons and his Ship's Orchestra making this Cole Porter classic everything it should be.

Sinner No.1 (it's not Moonface Martin, he just thinks he's a sinner!) is evangelist turned nightclub singer, Reno Sweeney and I marvel at why the West End Production felt the need to import Sutton Foster from the US, it can only be that Fleur Petford wasn't available to take her stunning triple threat of singing, dancing and acting to The Barbican and the audience at Stourbridge Town Hall should be thankful that they got the better deal.

Young Wall Street broker Billy Crocker, played with energy and a beaming smile by Dan Smith is in love with debutante Hope Harcourt (portrayed exquisitely and with an equally exquisite vocal by Jamie-Leigh Butler) but, she is already engaged to Sir Evelyn Oakleigh an eccentrically 'English' performance from Stephen Homer, to say it's complicated is an understatement!

Back to Public Enemy No.13, Moonface Martin, a rather second rate gangster but, played in a first rate style with some sublime comedy moments by J.Paul Murdock, aided ably by his 'moll' Bonnie (although I'm not sure he sees her as that, more like somebody who digs him out of a hole whenever required), another outstanding piece of character acting, singing and dancing from Lizzie Buckingham.

If you are going to have a debutante, you must have a slightly overbearing mother and Diane Bate fits that role perfectly as Mrs Wadsworth T Harcourt, equally you can't be on ocean liner without somebody taking a little too much advantage of the bar, Wayne Butler as Billy's boss Elisha J Whitney has obviously perfected that rather drunken stagger, not helped by loss of his glasses (stolen by Moonface and probably the most criminal thing he manages throughout the journey).

Many of the dance numbers are led with precision by Reno's team of supporting 'Angels', Charity (Louise Griffin), Purity (Leanne Ditchfield), Chastity (Gemma Gray) and of course Virtue (Bethan Clarke) (apparently of the 'easy' kind, although I must have missed that scene!). Let's also give credit to the Ship's Crew who manage to steer an acceptable course from US to UK despite the array of misfits causing havoc on-board, Captain (Brian Yardley), Purser (Harvey Dalloway) and Steward (Felicity Davies), backed-up by a well drilled ensemble cast.

Anything Goes is one of those timeless musicals that never seems to be out of place on any stage at any time and this is a prodigious version that you only have a few performances left to experience, so don't have any regrets and buy a ticket for something that is probably best described as delightful, delicious or de-lovely.

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