LOGAN — Come sail away with Anything Goes at the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre for a delightful and de-lovely evening. Written in 1934 with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton and Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, Anything Goes has been a long standing musical that has been through multiple new books and versions. Directed by Michael Jenkinson and Rick Robinson, UFOMT presents the 1987 Broadway revival version of Anything Goes with new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. Presented with a full live orchestra, conducted by Andreas Mitisek, this musical is full of hit dance numbers choreographed by Jenkinson and Alyssa Weatherby with bright and spirited songs that are just delicious.
Set in New York in the 1930s, Anything Goes follows the young Billy Crocker as he falls in love with the beautiful heiress Hope Harcourt. Billy ends up stowing away on the ocean liner, the SS American, when he finds out that Hope is on the ship and headed to England to marry Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. With the help from his long time friend Reno Sweeney and new friends Moonface Martin and Erma Latour, Billy sets forth to win the heart of Hope and convince her to marry him instead. However Billy ends up facing some hilarious and unforeseen obstacles onboard as he disguises himself from his boss the the ship’s officer who is looking for him.
Ian Saverin plays the lead role of Billy Crocker and happens to look a lot like a young DiCaprio who also played a stowaway in a show with a similar plot line on another large boat. Saverin is charming and suave while he sings “So Easy to Love” with Trysten Reynolds as Hope Harcourt. Trysten is lovely in a luxurious evening gown alone on the star lit deck of the ship as she sings “Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye.” The two make an enchanting couple with dreams yet are faced with her looming engagement to Lord Oakleigh.
Haley Sicking was outstanding in her role of the talented nightclub singer Reno Sweeney with her bright jazzy style and beautiful vibrato. Right from her opening number “I Get a Kick Out of You”, Sicking is engaging and radiant singing a heartbroken song yet not distraught. Her peppy duet with Saverin in “You’re the Top” was uplifting with comical wordplay and cheerful dancing. Sicking is a sensation in the song “Anything Goes” as she leads the cast in a hit song and tap dance number wearing stylish sailors outfits on the deck of the ship.
Moonface Martin (Gregory Sliskovich) and Erma (Haley Jones) are a snippy criminal duo with his Jersey mobster accent and her ditzy blonde street smarts. However, the two are strong individual characters. Sliskovich sings a joking duet with Sicking in “Friendship” with a delightful dance number. His mobster character is amusing as he brings his Tommy gun to the skeet shoot on deck and wins $100. Jones delivers her lines with comical finesse when everyone is confessing their secret sins and she states “I’ve been cursed with sex-appeal.” Dancing with the sailors, Erma sings “Buddie Beware” with playful seduction and careless confidence. The dance scene is upbeat and fun with many lifts including a fantastic lift at the end where the sailors carry Erma off the stage while she lays on her belly and winks and smiles.
Tony Mowatt played the stuffy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh from England with a haughty yet clueless demeanor. His shocking confession to Reno with “The Gypsy in Me” is hilarious and also well choreographed as he then dances the tango with the bedazzled Reno.
Set Designer Reuben Lucas created a massive ocean liner set that was three levels high. The white railing and wooden handrails and steps beautifully complimented the green and blue ocean liner with round portholes and large smokestacks. Lighting by John A Mitchell sets a stunning sunset of blue to purple ombre contrasted with the lit up portholes as Billy tries to woo Hope during “Easy to Love.”
Costume Designer Dennis Hassan had a large job with many beautiful and elegant costumes. Reno’s beautiful night club gowns were stunning including a red silk gown with a red tinted fur collar and sparkly red cape and a slim blue satin gown with a rhinestone neckline. Hassan created many instant costume changes throughout the show especially during “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”. Sicking and the ensemble girls pulled off two quick changes changing from angelic white flow dresses to short white dresses to devilish red dresses all in one song. These costume changes were amazing, although not flawless because a little of the red costumes were peaking through before the red costume reveal.
Overall, Anything Goes is an over-the-top musical filled with amazing singing talent, many excellent dance numbers, and costumes that are exquisite to behold. Head to Logan for a delightful show that is a musical lovers treat. 
This review is generously supported by a grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums.
