ANYTHING GOES Therry Theatre The Arts Theatre Until 20 Jun 2009 Review by Brian Godfrey “Anything Goes” featuring some of Cole Porter’s greatest hits and sporting a fairly predictable story lineinvolving British aristocracy, New York socialites, male secretaries, evangelists-turned-nightclub-singers,gangsters, tappers and Chinese coolies all bound for England, has here been given a fresh coat of paint. With director Norm Caddick at the helm, this production sails smoothly and might have just opened on a1930’s Broadway stage. The feel is helped by great costumes (although some aren’t quite up toscratch), well-drilled routines choreographed by Barbara Komazec, toe-tapping music under the baton ofJohn Drake and displayed in wonderful art deco settings by Bluey Byrne. These not only evoke the rightatmosphere but allow for some very smooth scene changes. Adding to the fun are some Busby Berkeleytouches: ostrich feather fans and lit-up staircases to name but two. Great shows require great casts and Caddick has managed to assemble a good one. Zoe Komazec is apint-sized package of dynamite as gangster’s moll Bonnie, singing and dancing her way into theaudience’s hearts (she can act up-side down, too!). Public Enemy Number 13, Moonface Martin, isplayed with tremendous comic flair by Brendan Mooney. Once Bluey Byrne settles his opening nightnerves, he will get even more laughs from his already promising characterisation of stiff-upper-lippedEnglish nit, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. Looking like a young Ethel Merman, Megan Humphries, as Reno Sweeney, delivers her quips with justthe right amount of New York acidity and performs her songs with gusto. Her version of “I Get a KickOut of You” is one of the best this reviewer has heard. As Hope Harcourt, Peta Long looks, acts, dances and sings just right. In a word, “DeLovely”. Chris Eaton as Billy Crocker began a little wobbly, but from his second appearance onwards, he madethe show his and had the audience (especially the ladies) eating out of his hands. If this young mancommitted murder, he’d have only to sing “All Through the Night” and all would be forgiven. With other amusing characters supplied by Lynn Bonython, Peter Wagner, Tom Carney, the very funnyAndrew Crayford and a chorus that obviously love being there, this is one great night at the theatre.