Cultural Dessert

'Anything Goes' by Cole Porter

9 September 2021

Last Saturday we were at The Barbican in London to see ‘Anything Goes’ - our first visit to a theatre since March 2020. Cole Porter’s 1934 musical was written as feelgood escapism for a depression-era audience, making it perfect for 2021. Director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall has revived her 2011 Broadway production of ‘Anything Goes’, bringing its star Sutton Foster (who won a Tony Award for her New York performance as Reno Sweeney) to make her London debut. Foster is a mesmerizing stage presence, leading a huge cast but she always seems to be the focal point. It’s hard to go wrong with a score that features songs including ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’, ‘You’re The Top’, ‘It’s De-lovely’ and ‘Anything Goes’. The title song tap number which closes the first half of the show is worth the price of admission on its own. There is great support from British veterans Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot, and Samuel Edwards impresses as the male lead Billy Crocker. But this is Sutton Foster’s show - a song and dance masterclass. And it was wonderfully emotional to be part of a sold-out audience brought to its feet by an old-fashioned stage musical. It was a joyous occasion. Watch the trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgKQSYBRRC0

Labels: Musicals, Theatre

posted by Robin Simpson @ 4:22 pm