Anything Goes at Lakeshore Players

Anything Goes is an enjoyable enough show, the plot is lightweight but it features some great Cole Porter songs. The production is directed and choreographed by Kyle Weiler and I expected to be wowed by the dancing in this one. I kept expecting it throughout the first Act and had just about given up when the show stopping title song came to close out Act I. All of the pent up desire was consummated in one fell swoop. The performance of “Anything Goes” is probably worth attending the show for that alone. Thankfully, while not a must see, there are still plenty of other elements that contribute to an all around good time at the theater. Weiler’s choreography is brilliant and there is more of it on display in Act II, though nothing does or probably could top the ending of Act I. I’m not as high on Weiler’s direction which is only serviceable. I suspect trying to direct and choreograph a show that was very dance heavy spread him a little thin and he wasn’t able to put as much thought into the direction. It feels like there is a lack of connection comedically between the outlandishness of some of the story elements and its staging. The original book for the musical included P.G. Wodehouse among its authors, though this production is based on the 1987 revival, with a new book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman. I can’t speak to the changes but I’m sure they were allowed more moral latitude in the update.

There are several standouts in the cast, first and foremost is Hope Nordquist as Reno Sweeney a Night Club singer who is performing the entertainment on an ocean liner heading from New York to London. Nordquist gets several great numbers to shine in, the aforementioned “Anything Goes” as well as “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and “The Dancer in Me” which she goes toe to toe with Lewis Youngren’s Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Its a fun number that has some nice footwork but also inspired comical moves as well. You may have noticed the absence of a plot synopsis, that’s because it doesn’t really matter, at least in this production. There are multiple sets of romances, none of which we actually care a thing about, there are gangsters and bosses and hiding out and pretending to be someone else. The reason to see this show is for the songs, the dancing, and while we care very little for any of the characters, we still have fun with some of the performances. Other enjoyable portrayals come from Marley Ritchie as the tough talkin’ Erma, who’s full of sass and attitude. Another crowd favorite was Adam Bloom as Moonface Martin, a gangster who is public enemy number 12.

The set design by Justin Hooper is well conceived and constructed with large staircases on either side of the stage leading to an upper platform. I expected Weiler to take more advantage of this Busby Burkeleyesque structure, but there is probably only so much you can safely do on those decently steep stairs, and I’d rather everyone was safe. The toilet in the brig of the ship was an inspired touch. Meghan Kent’s costumes for the most part where well done, though there was a dinner jacket that was hard to ignore that was coming apart at the seems, but that may have been the result of some strenuous dancing. Overall the production ran well technically, with each department adding value to the whole. I enjoyed the show, but I do think that it would be improved if we came to care about the characters a bit more.

Anything Goes runs through May 18th at Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake. For more information go to https://www.lakeshoreplayers.org/anythinggoes-season-72-1-1

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