With an unbelievable storyline and insipid characters, ‘Anything Goes’ is a show doomed from the beginning. The production by the First Year Players opened last night to a small audience and included singing, dancing and even some attempts at acting. But you can’t blame the actors for the silliness of the show itself.

Some of the actors weren’t so bad, one was even downright good, but for the most part they went down with the sinking ship. The fault lies in the choice of show, which director Ian Milliken describes in the program, saying, ‘FYP always chooses great shows, but it seemed that some real classics of American musical theater were often passed over for more contemporary works. With this in mind, we selected ‘Anything Goes’ … we opted to stage the older revised version of the show, which is closer to the original 1934 production.’

Unfortunately for Milliken, the old 1930s version just didn’t translate, plain and simple. The dialogue is odd and the musical numbers, which would be the show’s saving graces, are incongruous.

Despite the show’s shortcomings, the small audience on opening night seemed to like it, giving a standing ovation at curtain call. ‘I think it was funny,’ said Elana Celliers, a freshman biochemistry major, who saw the show with three of her friends, all of whom agreed that among the actors Tinuke Oyefule, who played nightclub singer Reno Sweeney, stood out.

‘You could tell they were all talented,’ said Amy Aaronson, a freshman broadcast journalism major. ‘Especially Reno. She was amazing.’

Oyefule was by far the standout performer, having the best stage presence of the entire cast, and keeping the eye of the audience glued on her from her first word to her last note.

‘I think Reno’s great; she has a really strong voice,’ said Laney DeMartino, a senior advertising and marketing major. ‘But I like Evelyn a lot too, he’s funny.’

Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, played by Michael Debach, was the other performance that did not go unnoticed. Debach never left the stage without a laugh and provided the only consistent comic relief.

The rest of the cast was fine, not particularly good but not particularly bad. Main characters Hope Harcourt, played by Kelsey Scram, and Billy Crocker, played by Peter Bukowski, were bland. Although Bukowski’s performance improved as the night went on, Scram simply became more irritating, despite an amazing voice. The audience was often enthralled by the incredible talents of Reno’s angels, played by Erin Parks, Kristin Busa, Christine Meglino and Katlyn Morahan, whose remarkable dance skills are undeniable.

FYP’s ‘Anything Goes’ is not a total failure. Despite the show itself, the actors deliver a light and fluffy storyline worthy of anyone’s Friday night, especially if it only costs $4. Go, if only to see Oyefule. Just don’t be expected to be blown away by an all-around unbeatable package.

Published on April 6, 2006 at 12:00 pm