Porchlight Music Theatre launches its 29th season by presenting Cole Porter’s ANYTHING GOES.
Ninety years ago ANYTHING GOES debuted as a madcap musical. The tale follows the antics of a stowaway, a debutante, a nightclub singer, a criminal and an English Lord on a cruise ship. Disguises, mistaken identities and vaudevillian-like gags pepper the quest for love on the high seas.The book is light. Even with a new 2022 libretto, it plays like an episode of “Love Boat.” Yet, under the masterful direction of Michael Weber, along with choreography by Tammy Mader and music direction by Nick Sula, this ANYTHING GOES sparkles as a loving, bubbly tribute to Cole Porter.
Weber keeps the pace tight and bright on his versatile stage. Scenic Designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec constructs a two level ocean liner with multiple revolving doors. Kmiec designs it with plenty of room for the talented ensemble to burst into song and dance. Whether it’s the large chorus, a few pairs or just a couple, Mader uses every inch of the stage to produce dynamic musical numbers. “Anything Goes” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” are big, colorful spectacles. The ensemble sings while energetically tapping and hoofing to the music. The spirited moves inspire infectious smiling and thunderous applause. Later, “The Gypsy in Me” captivates for both its humor and sexy vibe. Jackson Evans (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh) and Meghan Murphy’s (Reno Sweeney) playful antics effortlessly glide into sophisticated sizzle.
Weber cast this to perfection! In the lead, Murphy commands the stage with personality and vocal talent. She’s the headliner on the cruise and the show. Her flirtatious “I Get a Kick out of You” opens the show. She follows it up with plucky duets with both Luke Nowakowski (Billy Crocker) – “You’re the Top” and Steve McDonagh (Moonface Martin) -“Friendship.” Porter’s familiar tunes bring together sing and zing as lyrics heighten adoration or jest. They are also beautifully harmonized by this cast. This is especially true when Nowakowski and Emma Ogea (Hope Harcourt) sing “It’s De-lovely” and “All Through the Night.” The pair sweetly exude a genuine fairytale-like love.
All these superb principals have mega chemistry with each other. Murphy-Evans, Murphy-Nowakowski, Murphy-McDonagh, Nowakowski-Ogea, Nowakowski-McDonagh and Tafadzwa Diener (Erma) with every sailor on board as evidenced in “Buddie, Beware.”
ANYTHING GOES is a great winter escape aboard a ship bound for fun. The show transports the audience to another time and place. Designers Rachel Boylan (costumes) and Kevin Barthel (wigs) support the time travel illusion. They create 1930s looks that go from daytime sporty to evening elegance. It is a fun staycation where ANYTHING GOES.
ANYTHING GOES is the centerpiece of Chicago’s Cole Porter Festival – A Celebration of the Man and his Music, the recently launched live and digital, multi-partnered festival commemorating the career of one of America’s greatest composers and songwriters.
Running Time: Two hours and twenty minutes with an intermission
Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn
Original book by P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
New book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
Directed by Michael Weber
Choreographed by Tammy Mader
Music directed by Nick Sula
Performances are:
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm
Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm
EXTENDED Thru March 10th
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Liz Lauren
For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago