STAGE REVIEW : “Anything Goes†in Children’s Theater Production : Youngsters in the repertory group perform the Cole Porter songs and the dance routines with spirit, zest and, in some cases, real talent.
FULLERTON — “Anything Goes†is a benignly naughty piece of fluff anchored by such heavyweight Cole Porter standards as “I Get a Kick Out of You,†“It’s De-Lovely,†and “You’re the Top.â€
In the Fullerton Children’s Repertory Theatre production, the worldly chanteuse, Reno Sweeney, is played by Tami Giffin, an eighth-grader in a truly terrible wig who, happily, can sing. The musicianship of the rest of the “Silver†cast (there’s an alternate “Gold†cast as well) is not on a par with hers, although there is a live orchestra. It’s not a proficient live orchestra, but it’s playing that wonderful music for all it’s worth and accompanying the singers very attentively.
There’s plenty of spirited dancing, too, in the big tap numbers (which occur whenever a character gets arrested.)
The choreography is basic, but 32 simultaneous time-steps is an accomplishment of some kind, and when the entire cast is thundering away together, the motive for staging this particular musical seems evident.
The script itself is a bit of risque (for the ‘30s) nonsense that seems to have sprung straight from some witty cocktail party attended by its authors, Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse.
It’s fundamentally ludicrous to watch prepubescent teen-agers seducing each other, sort of like a sexual joke told among second-graders: Nobody really gets it, but everyone giggles anyway at the daring of it all.
Lance Broumand, however, is exceptionally funny as Moonface Martin, the Public Enemy who wouldn’t hurt a flea. And Joel Martyn charms as Sir Evelyn in an unabashedly relaxed performance.
There are other performances only a mother could love, but there were enough mothers in the audience that no one went unappreciated.
‘ANYTHING GOES’
Fullerton Children’s Repertory Theatre presents the Cole Porter musical. Book by Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Directed by Alberta Strey and Vicki Schindele. With Scott Baker, Emily Keeler, Joel Martyn, Ben Makino, Danielle Avey, Lance Broumand, Tami Giffin, Marla Roberts, Brian Heifferon, Tammy St.John, Jason Molino, Becky Lyons, Shawn Harris, Kiki McAulay, Linda Wintrode, Katy Ramos, Alicia Feuchter, Hannah Fullmer, Lettie Smith, Kellie Pierce, Mike Abbasford, Jared West, Elisa Sullivan, Ian Dietrich, Evan Watson, Chris Winkler, Brian Mullen, Adam Mathy, Kathy Choi, Bethany Martyn, Kim Young. Set Design: Ed Huber. Costume Design: Bronwyn Shirk. Lighting Design: Arie Loeb. Performances continue through Feb. 9 at Fullerton High School, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. Show times: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Tickets: $5. Information: (714) 870-6911.
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