Anything Goes

As promised, a musical without corsets! Times have indeed changed, and though we have rewound the clock many times on this blog, today we're staying in the present with a review of Cole Porter's classic musical, Anything Goes. The show tells the story of Reno Sweeney and Billy Crocker and their romantic adventures in a funny, charming show of love and friendship.

I first came across this musical when searching for potential school musicals. Apparently, if you search "popular high school musicals" on Google, you get a list of the most commonly performed musicals as polled by Playbill, and Anything Goes is fairly high at #6. When I looked it up on YouTube, I came across a full video of a production, and I could not stop laughing. The dialogue was hilarious, and the songs were stuck in my head for days. The video of the production is below!

If you have two hours and nothing else to do, check this out!!! 

Notable Songs*:

1. You're the Top - If you ever need a pick-me-up song, you've come to the right place. This duet is #friendshipgoals, Reno and Billy ready to help each other rise to the occasion and out of the dumps. The lyrics are what make the song; through rhyme after rhyme, the two make noble attempts to cheer each other up and boost confidence so that Billy can muster the courage to chase his darling Hope. 
2. Friendship - Speaking of friendships, this is perhaps one of the funniest songs in the show. Though borderlining a rather morbid humor at the end, Sutton Foster and Joel Grey have wonderful chemistry, and the result is this catchy tune. The trumpets are pheonomenal in the background, and I love how instead of saying "friendship," Foster makes it "fwiendship," giving it an innocent, vaguely childish humor. Favorite moment: between 3:00 and 3:12, the banter is adorable! 
3. It's De-Lovely - It wouldn't be a Broadway musical without a sweet, singsong-y duet, now would it? "De-Lovely" fits that trope perfectly, and with the moonlit setting of the song, it's a picturesque romance scene. Laura Osnes, who plays Hope Harcourt, sounds like a Disney princess; then again the whole song seems to belong in a Disney movie.
   
   
   If Sleeping Beauty took place on a cruise ship, "Once Upon a Dream" would be this song.
   
4. Anything Goes - Confession time, here's what I got (oops, wrong musical): I wish to be Sutton Foster. Then again, what Broadway addict doesn't? Foster's belt is incredible, and knowing that she did the last bit after that massive dance break makes it all the more impressive. It's no wonder she won a Tony for this role! 
5. Blow, Gabriel, Blow - This song is perhaps my favorite song in the entire show. I adore the soulful, majestic sound of the first part, followed by an abrupt, sensual tempo change, and then the ending on another speed-up. Below is a video that breaks down the whole song; it isn't Sutton Foster's version, but Patti LuPone is equally brilliant, and I have so much trouble deciding which one I prefer.
   
   
   
6. The Gypsy In Me - My favorite part of this song is the tango-like background music. It isn't difficult to picture Adam Godley waltzing around as the eccentric Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, absorbing the spotlight in his character's big number. Around the two-minute mark, the instrumental is brilliant, and the trumpets really get a chance to shine (as they do throughout the musical). 

*These reviews are of the 2011 revival starring Sutton Foster, Joel Grey, and Colin Donnell.

Anything Goes is one of the most popular classic, large-scale musical theater works. Famous for giant tap numbers, the dance breaks are so full of energy, pulling out motifs that stick in the listener's head. Meanwhile, the spoken dialogue of the show is incredibly entertaining; as I watched the production on YouTube, I found myself constantly stifling giggles at the antics and clever lines that punctuate every scene. As Reno Sweeney, Sutton Foster's enthusiasm and spunk are infectious, and the audience is drawn into the story effortlessly. Below is one of my favorite versions of the title song, performed by the universally-adored Jonathan Groff.

"I have a confession to make, and that is that I have a very deep, intense obsession with Sutton Foster." Wise words by Jonathan Groff. 

I also came across a lovely version of the title song by none other than Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. I never would have pictured them collaborating, but I'm a fan of the jazzy vibe that it brings to the song. 

That's about it on Anything Goes! I would love to see this show live at some point, so I hope that they bring it back soon. Considering the fact that they just did one, I'm assuming that it won't happen for a while, but I'll keep patiently waiting. Until then, my "chickadees", have a "de-lovely" night!