St. Louis is a great place to be if you enjoy lively grassroots theater. Case in point? New Line Theatre’s current production of Cole Porter’s 1934 classic Anything Goes, directed by Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy-Windsor. It’s on stage at The Marcelle, an intimate midtown venue filled with energy.
Anything Goes is the story of Billy Crocker (Evan Fornachon), an ocean-liner stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt (Eileen Engel). She is uncomfortably engaged to British aristrocrat Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Zachary Allen Farmer), and that’s why Billy has to finagle his way on board—to win her over and prevent her from marrying the wrong man. He gets some help from nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Sarah Porter) and gangster Moonface Martin (Aaron Allen), who create diversions to prevent Evelyn and Hope’s mother from catching on to Billy’s lovelorn shenanigans.
Billy’s madcap behavior in the name of true love is endearing, and he, Reno and Moonface keep the chuckle level high throughout both acts. Moonface comes on board dressed as a preacher to avoid suspicion, and his squinty expressions and nutty physical comedy produce laugh-out-loud moments.
The production includes several sing-along favorites such as the title piece, ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ ‘It’s De-Lovely’ and ‘Take Me Back to Manhattan.’ I especially enjoyed Porter’s vocal talents in two other numbers, ‘Friendship’ and ‘Let’s Misbehave.’ It was easy to picture her commanding a stage in Chicago or New York. The choreography by Michelle Sauer and Sara Rae Womack is impressive, too. There are several infectious dance numbers that make the theater’s small stage area seem like a much bigger space. It made me wish the venue were larger just so more theatergoers could enjoy the experience!
Porter doubles as assistant costume designer, and the choreographers appear as Purity and Virtue, two of ‘Reno’s Angels,’ which demonstrates the versatility of our local actors. The program notes describe this show as being just as relevant in 2018 as it was eight decades ago, and I have to agree. Love with the right person, for the right reasons, tends to triumph in the end—and that’s as true today as it ever was.
upcoming shows
» the color purple: the musical | through april 1
A Tony Award-winning revival at The Fabulous Fox Theatre
» new jerusalem | april 4-22
New Jewish Theatre’s story of a 17th-century philosopher
» born yesterday | through april 8
The Rep’s snappy comedy about political corruption
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
