Theater Review: Anything Goes with Sutton Foster & Joel Grey

It’s Delightful and Sutton Foster is De-lovely
By Lauren Yarger
A silly plot, even sillier gags, songs by Cole Porter and some powerhouse dance numbers giving Sutton Foster a chance to use some of the tap and belting skills that have been dormant in her latest Broadway roles combine to make Anything Goes a delightful revival that’s just so easy to love.

Foster is Reeno Sweeney, a club entertainer “evangelist” who pursues love interest Billy Crocker (a dreamy Colin Donnell) aboard an ocean liner. He’s pursuing someone else, however, socialite Hope Harcourt (Laura Osnes), who’s sailing with her mother, Evangeline (Jessica Walter – I saw understudy Linda Mugleston) and her fiancé, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (a very funny Adam Godley).

Also on board the ship (designed on a grand scale three levels by Derek McLane) are conman Moonface Martin (Joel Grey), posing as a priest, Erma (Jessica Stone), his partner in crime who keeps all the sailors occupied, and Billy’s boss, Elisha Whitney (John McMartin), who pursues Mrs. Harcourt. Billy was supposed to make an important stock transaction before he decided to stow away on the chance he could win Hope’s heart, and Reno, Moonface and Erma help Billy evade his boss with a number of ruses and disguises. A large ensemble completes the cast and performs the rousing production numbers directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.

The original book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton with Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse has been updated by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman and gives a storyline to Porter’s music and lyrics, which include familiar tunes like “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” “Easy to Love,” “Friendship,” “It’s De-Lovely,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” among others.

Foster, who burst onto the Broadway stage with a Tony-Award winning performance in Thoroughly Modern Millie hasn’t had a chance to show what she can do in subsequent roles (Little Women, The Drosy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein and Shrek), but finally, in Anything Goes, she gets to excercise her vocal range, belt like Ethel Merman and tap up a storm. She shines, and like the rest of the cast outfitted in lovely 1930s evening and cruise wear by designer Martin Paklidinaz, seems to be having a lot of fun up there. Even the lighting (Peter Kaczorowki, designer) should take a bow -- the “Easy to Love” number on the moonlit deck is particularly lovely.

The only down sides: Foster’s reserve in a few numbers where she could go even more to town, waiting until almost the end of Act One before we get a full-out production number and the arrangements of some of the songs (James Lowe is Musical Director). “Friendship” was particularly disappointing.

People were humming and singing the tunes at intermission and on their way out of the theater. All aboard for a really fun two hours and 45 minutes at the theater.

This Roundabout Theatre Company production of Anything Goes plays at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 124 West 43rd St., NYC. Tickets are available at http://www.givenik.com/show_info.php/Masterworks/283/individual.

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