New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth October 27th, 28th, 29th 2022

 Director – Paul Clements
Musical Director – Adam Blosse
Choreographer – Helen Wallis
Venue – New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth

Anything Goes first premiered on Broadway in 1934, but the success of the recent revival in London and the enduring appeal of Cole Porter’s clever music and lyrics shows that there is still plenty of life left in the old dog yet. It was with a sense of great anticipation that I took my seat. Spoiler alert: I was not disappointed.

The big advantage of this show for a youth group is that it has plenty of principal roles, so everyone gets their moment to shine. The downside is that there are an awful lot of lyrics to learn, especially with Porter’s many complicated ‘list’ songs.

Paul Clements, although well known on the amateur stage in Portsmouth, is a new director for Stage One, and he has chosen a strong cast and imbued this show with a freshness and vibrancy that it needs to keep it light and frothy. Choreographer Helen Wallis has drilled the cast well, producing some spectacular images, most notably in the huge Act One finale, “Anything Goes” and “Blow Gabriel Blow”.

The curtains opened to reveal a nice simple set with steps up each side and a bridge across the top. It was easily adapted to different settings, with the addition of props and furniture. Scene changes were handled very smoothly by the cast and crew, ensuring that the show moved along at a cracking pace. Moody lighting and pin sharp sound (by the New Theatre Royal) completed the picture (although perhaps they were a little too enthusiastic with the hazer at times!) Costumes, especially for the girls, were superb – colourful and redolent of the period – take a bow Bethany Baker.

You need strong leads in this show because they must take on so many of the numbers. We couldn’t ask for better than Ben Irish as Billy Crocker and Hope Hillier-Smith as Reno Sweeney. Both made the complicated songs looks so simple as their voices soared through the notes and they delivered the lyrics with precise diction. Ben has a lovely lyrical tenor voice and oozed charm throughout the show. Hope gave Reno just the right amount of feistiness and vulnerability and stunned us with her vocal talent in every one of her songs, but particularly my favourite “Blow Gabriel Blow”.

Jack Edwards is a natural comic and perfect for the character of Moonface Martin – a real triple threat, he can dance, sing, and act. Eden Hillier-Smith (Hope) is also a great singer and her rendition of “Goodbye Little Dream Goodbye” was utterly sublime. Tabby Smith-Allen as Erma really socked it to us with the powerful “Buddy Beware” and Edward Richardson’s portrayal of an upper-class twit (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh) was funny, without being mocking. I wish I could mention everyone, because you gave it your all with great energy and engagement, even when you weren’t the focus of the action. Chorus singing was excellent, and the choreography was performed with great precision. The band, under the baton of Adam Blosse, created the perfect sound and the sound balance was just right so that they never overwhelmed the singers.

Anything Goes might seem a little old fashioned for a youth group to perform, but it’s great that youngsters are being introduced to the fabulous music and clever lyrics of Cole Porter and, for us the audience, it’s wonderful to hear them again and to hear them being performed with such energy and exuberance. It was a truly uplifting evening – well done Stage One, you smashed it again!

Mark Donalds
NODA SE District 10 Representative