Anything Goes? Not Always.

Deerfield High School recently closed their winter musical, Anything Goes, which is one of Cole Porter’s finest shows. A ramp comedy with classics songs such as “You’re The Top,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.” And of course “Anything Goes.” But even with a great show, sometimes things just don’t work out.

For the most part, the cast sang the show very well. Reno Sweeney, played by Kellie Goddard, acted and sang the show very well. What surprised me was the fact she sang down “Anything Goes.” Due to this, the Act I finally was flat and dull. He did come back in Act II to sing with power ‘Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” which ended up being her best vocal or the night. Stand –out performance go to Elias Wygodny (Billy) and Moonface Martin (Rahm Sivergate). Their comic timing was sharp and witty when together, but lacked with other cast members. The jokes in the show seemed slow and forgotten. Was this a case of lacking energy from the cast or did the director push the show this direction?

Speaking of the director, I was very impressed to learn that she also choreographed the show. A lot of work to direct and choreography a musical, especially at the high school level. Unfortunately, ever dance seemed the same. Most numbers had the entire cast on stage, doing simple routines all facing out in lines. The biggest movement on stage was during the tap sequence in “Anything Goes” and even then everything stayed in a line.

Costumes seemed mix-matched and out of place. Many did not fit the cast and others were fantastic. The set was large and ship like. Worked well for the show.

Not the greatest rendition of Anything Goes, but for the most part at least the music was sung well. One of my theatre guests said, “It’s sorta like a radio show, you just can sit back and listen, and the you don’t have to think much.”