Review: Anything Goes

Hey readers!

It's time for my review of Anything Goes. 

"Anything Goes is a musical set on a cruise liner heading from New York to London, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Sometimes destiny and the path to true love needs a bit of guidance, including a crew of singing and dancing sailors and disguises. Will stowaway Billy Crocker and heiress Hope Harcourt have their happy ending? Anything goes on board this ship."

After a time where theatres have been closed for an extended period of time, people are understandably in need of some escapism from the real world. If this is you, then look no further than Anything Goes; the perfect musical to lift your spirits. This production is pure fun from beginning to end, and is the ideal show to welcome theatregoers back to the Barbican Centre. It's so entertaining, and a genuine delight to behold. Anything Goes is a musical comedy, and the book is genuinely hilarious. The jokes all land really well, and they had the audience in stitches at numerous points. It is worth noting that the musical first debuted in 1934, and yet the piece is timeless. The fact that the show had such a positive response from its audience would seem to indicate that, even after all these years, Anything Goes is still a crowd-pleaser. The humorous story is accompanied by an excellent musical score, composed by the late Cole Porter. The music has an old-fashioned charm to it, which makes it very appealing. It will undoubtedly bring nostalgia to many, but will also introduce Porter's music to a whole new generation of theatre-goers. 

Each and every cast member featured in Anything Goes is beyond exceptional. From the leading performers to the ensemble, they are all extraordinary. In the leading role of Reno Sweeney is Sutton Foster; a character she first portrayed 10 years ago on Broadway, and for which she received the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Foster is often deemed 'Broadway royalty', and it is easy to see why. Every aspect of her performance was faultless; she was a skilled actress, a talented singer and a phenomenal dancer. Foster has such a good command of the stage, stealing the spotlight upon each entrance. In this production she is joined by Robert Lindsay, who stars as Moonface Martin. Lindsay is similarly remarkable, and was particularly adept at comic timing. He's extremely charismatic and, similar to other productions he has starred in, was an absolute delight to watch from beginning to end. A special mention must also be awarded to Haydn Oakley, in the role of Lord Evan Oakleigh. Oakley too was hilarious, and delivered each joke flawlessly. His solo musical number 'The Gypsy in Me' was very well performed, and proved to be one of the show's many highlights.

The choreography has been crafted by director Kathleen Marshall, who has returned to the show after having worked on the Broadway production in 2011. At that time, Marshall received a Tony Award, and that should come as no surprise to those who watch this production. The choreography is spellbinding, and among the best I have seen in quite some time. There are some big production numbers throughout the show, and they are all stunning. The scenic design, by Derek McLane, is also excellent and really added to the overall presentation. It was extremely detailed and felt very life-like to how an actual cruise liner would appear, making it easy to immerse yourself in the world of the characters. The costumes, designed by Jon Morrell, are also marvellous. From the sailor suits to the glitzy gowns, each costume was sensational. 

Now for my final verdict on Anything Goes. I give Anything Goes...

This production of Anything Goes is a stellar revival of an excellent musical. It's extremely entertaining, and proves to be a delightful show with some incredible performances.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Basic Theatre Reviewer