If you haven’t yet experienced the magic that is STAGES St. Louis, there is no better time than now to buy your tickets.
While the classic Cole Porter melodies of Anything Goes have rung out in countless local theaters, high school auditoriums, and Broadway stages, the show seems like it was tailor-made for STAGES’ intimate Robert G. Riem Theater. Because there are fewer than 400 seats, even the back rows can marvel at the costumes’ shimmering sequins and the dancers’ rapid-fire time steps—making STAGES’ version of Anything Goes truly larger than life.
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Anything Goes is, at its heart, a love story. The curtains open as Billy Crocker, a young Wall Street banker, heads to the docks to wish his boss Eli Whitney and his good friend, Reno Sweeney, bon voyage before they embark on a luxurious cruise. On deck, Billy catches a glimpse of a familiar face—it’s Hope Harcourt, a young debutante with whom he spent one wild, romantic night in New York. However, Hope is traveling with the uppity Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, who she must marry to restore her family to wealth. On impulse, Billy decides to stow away on the ship, hoping to win Hope’s heart forever—and when the ship pulls away from the dock, a myriad of zany antics ensue.
The show is, without a doubt, silly. With a cast of characters including a drunken old Ivy Leaguer, a stuffy Englishman masking his wild half-gypsy heritage, a pair of Chinese-gamblers-turned-Christians, a second-rate gangster dressed as a minister, and one adorable, tiny dog, the show’s ridiculousness overshadows even its most serious moments—but who cares? Anything Goes is two hours of song, dance, and Vaudeville humor, and the sheer fun of it all makes this a theater experience that should not be missed.
It takes talented actors to create a memorable and substantial performance without a particularly dramatic plot, and this cast pulls it off without a hitch. Young, handsome, and bright-eyed, Brent Michael Diroma could not be better suited for the role of Billy Crocker—just listen for his flawless high note at the end of “All Through the Night” for the proof. Julie Cardia (Reno Sweeney) deserves praise for her endurance alone, changing costumes between nearly every scene and still delivering all her dialogue and songs with the power and brassiness that her character demands. The petite and sweet soprano Heidi Giberson (Hope Harcourt) highlights the colorful contrast between the two female leads, and her voice melds beautifully with Diroma’s in their romantic duets.
The supporting cast deserves equivalent praise. Whit Reichert (Elisha Whitney), Brennan Caldwell (Ship’s Purser), and Bob Amaral (Moonface Martin) deliver side-splitting performances in their comedic roles, and dancers Claire Logan, Lois Enders, Gaby Gamache, and Bronwyn Tarboton actually make tap dancing sexy. Dan Fenaughty is lovably clueless as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, and you won’t find a flaw in his British accent. The cast as a whole has the vocal power of an ensemble twice its size (highlighted in songs like “Bon Voyage” and the show-stopping “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”), and there isn’t a weak link among the bunch.
James Wolk designed clever sets, including an impressive two-tiered deck piece that serves as the backdrop for the majority of the show. Sean M. Savoie’s lighting design brilliantly transitions the stage from day to night with a sparkling sky of stars. Finally, Brad Musgrove’s costumes bring the show’s visuals to an even higher level, especially the dazzling gowns in the “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” scene.
STAGES might seem tiny, especially in comparison to many other local theaters, but Anything Goes attests to the company’s immense strength. On a small stage with an intimate audience, every word, facial expression, and dance step can be appreciated, and with a cast like this, you’ll want to be in the front row.
To quote the first act, “it’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s delectable, it’s delirious—it’s de-lovely!”
Anything Goes runs through August 16 at the Robert G. Reim Theater, 111 S Geyer. Tickets are available for purchase online for $35-$57, with $20 rush tickets for students and senior citizens.
