Anything Goes

It's "live theatre" day here on the ol' blog thing wherein we stretch the definition of "live theatre".   

The show in question was live when cameras were aimed at it to film it when it was performed  at London's Barbican Theatre in 2021.  

Andrea and I watched this life show as part of an episode of PBS's Great Performances series that aired in 2022. 

The show is Anything Goes, a lavish production of Cole Porter & P.G. Wodehouse's classic musical, featuring a full company of over 50 including a full-sized orchestra and even 14 tap dancing sailors. 

The big attraction in this production is the lead performance of Sutton Foster, currently co-starring with Hugh Jackman on Broadway in The Music Man.  

So what exactly is the big deal with Sutton Foster? Doubtful I will get up to Broadway to see The Music Man anytime soon to answer that question but if the 2021 London production of Anything Goes is any indication, the big deal with Sutton Foster is that she is very, very good at what she does.  

The story is set on an ocean liner bound on a journey from New York to London. 

Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Over the course of the show, Billy will be called upon to impersonate a sailor, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh's brother and a gangster named Snake Eyes Johnson, Public Enemy #1. 

Also on board is Public Enemy #13, "Moonface" Martin who spends part of the trip impersonating a priest.  

On board for ship's entertainment is nightclub singer Reno Sweeney who also includes "evangelist" on her resume although her idea of church is a sexy and sultry performance. This is the role where Sutton Foster fires on all cylinders with razor sharp comedic time, a powerful and sensual singing voice and energetic dance routines that defy gravity. 

There's a lot of excellent performances in this production of Anything Goes but Sutton Foster shines especially bright and demonstrates why she's such a big deal on Broadway.  

Challenging Sutton for the spotlight is Robert Lindsay as "Moonface Martin" who stills sounds like a mobster even while allegedly in disguise as a priest. He fancies himself a tough guy in the mob but deep down, he's a teddy bear which is why he can't get any higher on the "Public Enemies" list than #13. 

Let's wrap up this post with Sutton Foster and the cast of Anything Goes perform the show-stopping Act 1 finale.

And if you want to see more of Anything Goes, click here for the whole show.