I got to check out the opening night of Anything Goes at the fabulous Civic Theatre, on the “blue carpet”, which was in support of Blue September and Anything Goes star Ray Woolfe - raising awareness for prostate cancer. I digress - it’s a show I didn’t know a lot about but of course as soon as they started playing - I’m there and I knew all the songs! With the very impressive live band playing away (just like the titanic - without the sinking) on the top deck of the ship to set the scene.
Jackie Clarke - outstanding! She can sing, she can dance and looks gorgeous doing it all with her flaming red hair. Richard Neame who plays the bumbling Englishman cast perfectly with his little notebook of “words” and his “hot pants”! Tyran Parke plays the handsome lead with his boyish good looks chasing after his love “Hope” played by Delwynne Winter (her first time in such a big show) did a stunning job for such a big role. And it was so good to see Ray Woolfe - who doesn’t seem to have aged at all, back on the stage!
The show stopper for me was the song “Anything Goes” - those people can sing and dance. My only wish was that there was more of the tap dancing - incredible with the live band playing away on the top deck and the talented cast. This song got people on their feet wanting more. I would have been happy to have just seen that itself - it was fabulous!
The only let down of the evening was the sound - the band was a lot louder than the singers so hopefully this will be perfected for the next show.
Head along to Anything Goes, have a break from the rugby, a good laugh and watch some damn fine dancing and singing! I’m off to start my tap dancing lessons now.....
Another great NZ performance - it’s a fun night out!
Review by Sonia Sutherland
Anything Goes
29 Sep 2011 - 22 Oct 2011
All aboard for this glorious all new production of the Cole Porter classic. Anything Goes is set to sail into Auckland in time for the Rugby World Cup for a strictly limited season at The Civic.
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