Anything Goes – March 14-15, 21-22, 1986
“Anything Goes” is a classic American musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse. The musical is set aboard an ocean liner in the 1930s and is filled with romance, mistaken identities, and comedic hijinks. Here’s a summary of the plot:
Act 1: The Setting
The musical begins aboard the S.S. American, an ocean liner sailing from New York to London. The passengers include a mix of characters, from Wall Street tycoons to nightclub singers, and each has their own reason for traveling.
Reno Sweeney, a brassy nightclub singer and evangelist, is one of the passengers. She is in love with Billy Crocker, a young Wall Street broker, but he is infatuated with Hope Harcourt, a debutante engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.
Billy stows away on the ship to be close to Hope, but he ends up disguising himself as a crew member. Meanwhile, Moonface Martin, a bumbling gangster known as “Public Enemy Number 13,” is also on board in disguise.
Act 2: Romantic Entanglements
As the voyage progresses, romantic entanglements and mistaken identities abound. Billy’s true identity is discovered, but he manages to avoid capture by posing as a minister. Moonface, aided by Reno, tries to evade arrest as well.
Evelyn Oakleigh, despite his aristocratic background, is a bumbling and good-hearted Englishman who becomes smitten with Reno, while Hope realizes her feelings for Billy.
Act 3: Resolution
In the final act, the romantic misunderstandings are resolved. Billy and Hope decide to marry, and Reno finds happiness with Lord Evelyn.
The ship arrives in London, and all the passengers disembark. Moonface Martin, who has been mistaken for a clergyman, escapes the law once again, and Reno, with a wink to the audience, hints that she will continue her adventures.
“Anything Goes” is celebrated for its lively and memorable songs, including the title song “Anything Goes,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.” The musical is a comedic romp filled with humor, romance, and the catchy tunes of Cole Porter.
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