If there’s one musical that can make you laugh, smile from ear-to-ear and tap your toes, it’s Cole Porter’s 1934 classic Anything Goes! At the official Opening and Media Night at Mirvish’s Princess of Wales Theatre, the cast dazzled the audience with a de-lightful performance in this smooth sailing Broadway revival by the Roundabout Theatre Company.
The show, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall, is about a mixed bag of passengers and sailors on board the SS American cruise line. It takes us on a journey into the open seas where love and destiny go into uncharted territories. It’s a high-energy show filled with incredible casting right from the start.
Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES Company. Photo Credit: © Joan Marcus, 2012
The Tony Award-winning hit Anything Goes stars the critically-acclaimed Rachel York who has boundless energy in her role as Rena Sweeney, the nightclub performer who sings to wash away sins of bar patrons. York is AMAZING!! After each of her numbers, all you can hear from the audience is WOW WOW WOW!! And she’s delivers a flawless performance each time. In fact, after one particular song the audience showed York just how much they loved her with unstoppable applause.
The entire cast is solid with each character holding its own, but York is so convincing in her persona that I left wondering what she would be like when she’s not performing. You know actors are THAT good when you’re convinced that they can’t be any different in “real life”. Her character is confident, sassy and effervescent! You can’t take your eyes off of her.
BTW York is a mom of a 2 year old — I totally cannot relate to where she gets her energy for the performances as she must be spending all her off-stage time chasing after her toddler! LOL
My “plus one” for the opening night show was my mom. I knew she would recognize some of the songs and she LOVED every minute of the show. I glanced over her a few times and noticed that she couldn’t stop smiling! I was surprised that even I knew a few of the songs like You’re the Top, It’s De-lovely, and Anything Goes! …guess I’m not as young as I thought? Doesn’t matter! I enjoyed it just as much as Ma did.
This production is amazing! Go see it! It’s fun and deliciously witty. Take the grandparents for nostalgia’s sake but you’ll enjoy this musical comedy too! I’m still humming the tunes!
Anything Goes runs until August 18, 2013 at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Toronto)
Running Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (plus 15 minute intermission)
**FYI there are $29 rush tickets available but it’s worth the regular ticket prices. For performance date/times and ticket information please visit mirvish.com
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