Camila Aldet as Reno Sweeney, Joshua Lee as Fred, and Jeff Gallup as Billy Crocker. Photo by Sally Boyette.
“It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely.” In “Anything Goes,” lovestruck Billy Crocker sings those words to heiress Hope Harcourt aboard the S.S. America. Audiences, however, might describe the musical much the same way. Since making its Broadway debut in 1934, the Cole Porter classic, with original book by Guy Burton and PG Wodehouse, has been entertaining theatre goers worldwide. Three times, the hit show has been adapted for film and for television. Twice, the stage production has been revised—once in 1987 and again in 2011. The score has given us pop standards such as “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” “You’re the Top,” and of course the title song, “Anything Goes.”
…glitz, glamour, and an abundance of pizzazz…a dazzling performance with flawless vocals and can’t-miss-a-beat comedic timing.
In addition to familiar earworms, this perennial hit has a smart script that, while predictable, delivers plenty of laughs. Set on an ocean liner headed for London, we meet the up-and-coming Billy Crocker, assistant to millionaire, Yalie Elisha Whitney. Billy stows away and assumes the identity of a notorious criminal in order to woo Hope who is now engaged to another man. Billy is aided by an evangelizing night club singer, a gangster posing as a priest, and a fickle gun mol. Meanwhile, his boss sets his sights on romance with Hope’s widowed mother, Evangeline.
Now, with glitz, glamour, and an abundance of pizzazz, Classic Theatre of Maryland has made this all-time favorite their own. Under the direction of Sally Boyett, the large cast gives a dazzling performance with flawless vocals and can’t-miss-a-beat comedic timing. Camila Aldet is mesmerizing as Reno Sweeney, the brash and sexy songstress who puts her own love for Billy aside to assist him in pursuing romance. John Pruessner is delightfully hilarious as Moonface Martin—aka “Public Enemy Number 13.” Delaney Jackson plays Moonface’s sidekick, Erma Latour with a pleasing mixture of sass and sweetness.
Allison Meyer and Jeff Gallup are paired beautifully as star-crossed lovers Hope Harcourt and Billy Crocker. Noah Pigza is charming as Hope’s bumbling fiancé Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Dexter Hamlett is uproarious as Billy’s hard-drinking boss pursuing passion with the formidable Evangeline Harcourt played by Nancy Krebs.
This brilliant band of performers is joined on stage by one of the most talented ensembles of dancers and singers that this reviewer has ever seen. The large-scale dance numbers are high-energy and nothing short of perfection! The costumes range from sailor suits to sequined evening gowns—all are spectacular and add to the ambiance! In addition to directing, Boyett serves as choreographer and costume designer with Maureen “Reenie” Codelka as music director.
In short, “Anything Goes” is pure entertainment, funny and familiar, and well worth an evening out!
Running Time: Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
“Anything Goes” runs through May 18, 2025 at Classic Theatre of Maryland, 1804 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
