April 12, 2010
Abingdon Operatic Society’s rendition of Anything Goes was a fun and light-hearted affair that stayed true to the show's roots and captured the feel of the time very well indeed.
Anything Goes is a comic musical first performed in 1934. The story is the typical ‘boy meets girl, girl is betrothed to another and the other is infatuated by a third’ affair played out on board a transatlantic cruise. On board we also find a confident American tycoon, a sassy ex-evangelist turned nightclub singer and America's public enemy #13. Complete with all the flimsy disguises, lucky coincidences and soft innuendo one expects, everything turns out all right in the end and everybody ends up happy.
This particular showing was itself a very decent amateur performance. The acting was by and large very good, only occasionally let down by the perennial downfall of characters waiting to say their lines rather actually speaking to each other. The musical numbers were also sung well, with the group numbers being particularly inspiring. Special mention has to go to Reno Sweeney (Sophie Ruggerio), whose voice and manner was excellently suited to her character, and to Hope Harcourt (Keryy Chaundy) who brought forth a wonderfully full and feminine voice.
The real stars of the show for me though (apart from the orchestra, who were spot on) were director Chris Briggs and choreographer Vicky Ellis, who together managed to really capture the 1930s feel in every hat, gesture and hand swing. The costumes, set and movements were just right, and the dance routines revived all those cute 1930s moves that you just don't see anymore.
The sum of all parts came together just as it should, and it all seemed to work very well for the audience. Though it is not a bombastic Mamma Mia style musical, if you are looking for something softer and a little bit more innocent, something to perhaps to take you back to days gone by, then Anything Goes may well be the thing for you.
Anything Goes is a comic musical first performed in 1934. The story is the typical ‘boy meets girl, girl is betrothed to another and the other is infatuated by a third’ affair played out on board a transatlantic cruise. On board we also find a confident American tycoon, a sassy ex-evangelist turned nightclub singer and America's public enemy #13. Complete with all the flimsy disguises, lucky coincidences and soft innuendo one expects, everything turns out all right in the end and everybody ends up happy.
This particular showing was itself a very decent amateur performance. The acting was by and large very good, only occasionally let down by the perennial downfall of characters waiting to say their lines rather actually speaking to each other. The musical numbers were also sung well, with the group numbers being particularly inspiring. Special mention has to go to Reno Sweeney (Sophie Ruggerio), whose voice and manner was excellently suited to her character, and to Hope Harcourt (Keryy Chaundy) who brought forth a wonderfully full and feminine voice.
The real stars of the show for me though (apart from the orchestra, who were spot on) were director Chris Briggs and choreographer Vicky Ellis, who together managed to really capture the 1930s feel in every hat, gesture and hand swing. The costumes, set and movements were just right, and the dance routines revived all those cute 1930s moves that you just don't see anymore.
The sum of all parts came together just as it should, and it all seemed to work very well for the audience. Though it is not a bombastic Mamma Mia style musical, if you are looking for something softer and a little bit more innocent, something to perhaps to take you back to days gone by, then Anything Goes may well be the thing for you.