Stars Shine in Bright 'Anything Goes'
(continued)
With a streamlined, scaled-back set by David Lashof that provides effective despite its simplicity, Monnett has concentrated on performance and magic-creating details. He uses the usually wasted overature time to introduce his stars, who flamboyantly stride on deck as each charater's name is projected evoking a 1930s film ambiance and setting the pace before the show even starts. That's especially helpful as "Anything Goes" is the rare musical that doesn't kick off with a big tuneful number and is, in fact, rather slow initially.
The clever details continue as Reno is introduced atop a mountain of luggage being wheeled into position. Monnett uses stagehands dressed as sailors positioning props under the command of a ship's officer, missing no effort to create atmosphere. Everybody on stage has something unique to do at all times, and Monnett has added imaginative choreography to each number.
The show gradually builds to an energy that culminates in a tap dance extravaganza featuring the entire 28 member cast in the first-act finale "Anything Goes," the highlight of which has the men on one side and the women on the other in a mighty competition. The second picks right back up, never letting up steam to the end, including the roof-raising "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," which is augmented by Amy Ubik's dramatic lighting.
Through it all, Kennedy is a saucy and sexy star, her speech perfectly recreating the rapid-fire '30s patter and her singing expressive and soaring beautifully. Her long legs dazzle as she dances through half a dozen numbers, dominating the stage whenever she is present and matched only by Jack Sheer in their sly duet, "Let's Misbehave."
The cast is generally reliable, although the serious, stolid Smith is an odd choice for Cocker, who is ususally played with a lighter, make ingenue touch. The scaled down orchestra, conducted by Brandon Cota, had problems with frequently off-key, out-of-sync trumpets on opening night, but otherwise proved adequate for this lively, entertaining show.
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