BWW Reviews: Delightful, Delicious and De-Lovely! A First Class ANYTHING GOES Docks at The McCallum Theatre

If you've been secretly praying for a good old fashioned love story wrapped up in a delicious Cole Porter score, dazzling costumes, highly polished performances and slick, high-energy production numbers then the current national touring production of ANYTHING GOES, which is docked at The McCallum Theatre for the Thanksgiving weekend, is the answer to your prayers. This most recent revival of the high-spirited musical farce (originally produced in 1934) is first class all the way.

Emma Stratton (Reno Sweeney) is pitch perfect and delivers a highly nuanced performance - she is broad, brassy and dynamic, but never overplayed. Stratton proves herself more than up to the task of carrying the weight of such a monumental role and is equally adept at all the "threats" -- her vocal, dramatic and dance abilities are stellar. A recent graduate of Penn State, this is Emma's first professional production, but she is definitely a "one to watch" and I have high expectations of a major career ahead. Brian Krinsky (Billy Crocker) has a lovely "timeless" vocal quality, well suited for the material, and exudes the charm, charisma and comic timing necessary to match the other rather "over the top" characters in the show. He is less skilled in the dance arena and feels a bit "lumbering" and out-of-step during his two "Astaire-like" dance turns with Rachelle Rose Clark (Hope Harcourt). Clark is a lovely ingénue and turns in a wonderfully layered performance - albeit a little pitchy on some of her solo turns.

Other performances of note -- Dennis Setteducati (Moonface Martin), Mychal Phillips (Erma) and Tracy Bidelman (Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt) - all top notch. The only weak link in the chain for me is Richard Lindenfelzer (Lord Evelyn) - so much of a caricature and so unbelievable that I felt like I was being thrust into a mediocre dinner theatre production every time he took the stage. His "The Gypsy In Me" was the only cringe-worthy number in the show and, even though buoyed-up by the always sturdy Stratton, it was a misstep in an otherwise flawless production. The ensemble, by the way, was outstanding throughout.

Kathleen Marshall's Tony-winning choreography is, on its own, worth the price of admission and the ensemble executes in brilliantly. The show's signature number, "Anything Goes", which closes Act One, is nothing short of spectacular and has a collective audience perched at the edge of their seats. "Blow Gabriel", at the top of Act Two, equally thrilling. It is the balance of Act Two that limps along a bit toward the finale, with musical numbers that are much less memorable and, in fact, seem totally unnecessary to the plot except to 'fill time", to give Act Two a little more weight. "Goodbye, Little Dream", "Be Like The Bluebird" and "Buddie, Beware" (and nothing to do with the performances, which range from adequate to very good) each could be "thrown overboard" and never missed. Second Acts sometimes do that. Marshall's direction moves the show along at break neck speed and so the comparative lagging of Act Two is glaring.

ANYTHING GOES is a hit! And well worth the two hours spent in the theatre! I feel certain that Cole Porter would be thrilled with this Delightful and Delicious revival!

With just two performances remaining, today at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, this is a "run, don't walk to the box office" theatrical event. Limited tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office or at www.mccallumtheatre.com. The McCallum is celebrating the holiday season in great style this year with several "don't miss" productions including "A John Waters Christmas" (December 2), "A Peter White Christmas" (December 5), "Neil Sedaka" (December 6 and 7), "The Irish Tenors Christmas" (December 12 and 13), "The Colors Of Christmas" (December 14), "The Nutcracker" (December 17) and "A Merri-Achi Christmas" (December 20). For tickets of further information visit www.mccallumtheatre.com.

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