Claremont secondary musical theatre sets sail aboard the ocean liner SS American as 80 students stage Anything Goes. With a cast of 50, an orchestra of 10, and 20 crew the theatre students in Grades 9 through 12 have worked since February to bring the Cole Porter classic Anything Goes to Ridge Playhouse. “Everyone should come see this show, because it is seriously entertaining.
Everyone involved has put so much effort into making the show enjoyable, and I think we delivered. There’s even tap dancing,” said Oliver Paxman, who plays Billy Crocker. Anything Goes follows nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney en route from New York to England.
Her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, but the problem is Hope is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Joining this love triangle on board the luxury liner are Public Enemy #13, Moonface Martin and his sidekick-in-crime Erma. With the help of some elaborate disguises, tap-dancing sailors and good old-fashioned blackmail, Reno and Martin join forces to help Billy in his quest to win Hope’s heart.
Abbie Mellings, who plays Hope, promises a fun show with great musical numbers and funny moments. Proud of her peers on stage, the hijinks of the production on stage are not to be missed. The cast and crew are part of the musical theatre course at Claremont, but beyond that the show is a culmination of hundreds of hours of work over several months, said director Colin Plant, who marks 25 years tea.
