BWW Reviews: ANYTHING GOES, New Wimbledon Theatre, June 13 2013

Look - there's a tart with a heart. And look over there - an upper class twit, who's a decent sort at the end of the day. And a scatty tycoon. And a lovelorn young guy trying to catch a break with a debutante. And a gangster with his on-off moll in tow. Yes, there's plenty of PG Wodehouse's stock characters, even in the updated book of the 1934 musical megahit, Anything Goes. There are also some of Cole Porter's greatest songs, his wit and melodies as fresh today as ever - even if the lyrics' references send one to Wikipedia, rather than today's copy of the New York Times.

No wonder Wimbledon Light Opera Society revived this old favourite (last performed by the company in 2007) to be their summer show for 2013. It's as much fun on stage as in the stalls - as such shameless entertainment should be - and everyone clearly revels in the spectacular bias cut dresses, sharp morning coats and little sailor hats. In set design, costumes and music (under Tom Theakston), production values are very high and well worth the ticket price.

Director Janet Huckle gets some spectacular performances from her cast too. Elizabeth Burton can belt out the songs and hoof it with best of them as showgirl Reno - her "You're the Top" duet with Billy (Tom Cane) is a real er... high point. If Ms Burton gets the showstoppers, she also gets excellent support from Amanda Stewart as debutante Hope Harcourt and the Moonface and Erma gangster/moll double act from Seamus Grey and Katy Goddard. There's wonderful work too from any number of sailors, dancers and passengers, who don a dizzying array of outfits and never look less than fantastic under the bright lights. Almost stealing the show with a warmth and comic timing that many pros have found impossible to pull off when staging Wodehouse, is Jason Thomas as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, who eventually works out both who he wants and how to get her. The shp sails on.

The Wimbledon Light Opera Society have been putting on shows since before Anything Goes premiered on Broadway in 1934. This year's extravaganza is a worthy addition to that roll of honour.

Anything Goes continues at New Wimbledon Theatre until June 15.

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