"Anything Goes" - Cole Porter - Theatre at the Mount (Gardner, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Dawn Ross as “Reno Sweeney” with the CAST of the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through October 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Good authors, too, who once knew better words now only use four-letter words writing prose... anything goes."
- Cole Porter
Theatre at the Mount
Presents the Cole Porter Musical
"ANYTHING GOES"
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Directed by Craig Cormier
Music Director Senja Morgan
Choreographer Ali Hall
Producing Director Gail Steele
Cast Includes: Dawn Ross as “Reno Sweeney,” Mike Ross as “Billy Crocker,” Ilana Whittaker as “Hope Harcourt,” Thom Hardy as “Moonface Martin,” Chay Tower-Hughes as “Sir Evelyn Oakleigh,” Sarah Priestley as “Erma,” Terrie Lootens Hyde as “Evangeline Harcourt,” Mike Dickson as “Elisha Whitney,” Paul Caouette as “Henry T. Dobson,” Mikhael Gelineau as “Spit,” Grant Arbour as “Dippy,” Jeremiah Riordon as “The Captain,” Hayley Blackmer/Murphy as “The Purser,” Jillian Whitney as “Chastity,” Amanda Lawton as “Charity,” Kristen Carpenito as “Purity,” Brianna Pascale as “Virtue,” Rachel Twiss as “The Bartender.” Sailors: Blake Ross, Mike Audet, Evan Piscitello, Timmy Chase, Ensemble: Kim Soel, Jackie Wyatt, Mallory Fish, Sabrina Collins, Amanda Buskiewicz
Additional Creative Team:
Tech Director/Set Designer - David Prescott Costumer - Mimi Allen* Props - Lisa Smith Adams Lighting Designer - Sam Gagnon Sound Designer - Sean Kyle Stage Manager - Michelle Caissey Box Office Manager - Paul Caouette Lobby Graphics - Lori Adams Playbill Designer - Michelle Carpenter *Costume rentals provided by Emerald City Theatricals.
Performances:
October 3, 2025 through October 12, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Mount Wachusett Community College, 44 Green Street, Room 182, Gardner, MA.
TICKETS:
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by calling # 978-630-9388.
For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at # 978-630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
Theatre at the Mount in Gardner casts off and sets sail to fun, music and romance with Cole Porter's "ANYTHING GOES" and it is definitely a show that will keep all toes a-tappin’ and a few heads a-scratchin’.
Involving the silly antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London, the book for the two-act musical was actually a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, later revised considerably by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
"ANYTHING GOES" features many Porter standards including "You're the Top," “Friendship,” “De-Lovely,” "All Through the Night" and "I Get a Kick Out of You" all faithfully staged at the Mount by director Craig Cormier and choreographer Alison Hall, supported musically by an impressive orchestra conducted by musical director J. Senja Morgan.
Ever since its 1934 debut on Broadway, "ANYTHING GOES" is considered the “gold standard” of musicals – although for some, this reviewer included, that mantle is debatable.
Oh sure, the show has been revived several times, turned into films, television productions and staged countless times at schools and by regional theatres in its almost 92-year history.
But does that mean it's the best of the best when it comes to musicals?
It's all in one's perspective and this show's own "perspective" has changed over the years as times change and this latest version is far more evolved than its predecessors.
No less than FIVE versions of the libretto of "ANYTHING GOES" exist since the original first was produced, and the talented creative team and cast at Theatre at the Mount uses the most recent revision.
While the most recent version still involves many of the same lighthearted characters and romantic complications taking place aboard a luxury liner, this latest version has a couple of glaring omissions that fans of the earlier libretto will miss, this reviewer included.
The likeable character of Bonnie has been removed as have musical numbers “Heaven Hop,” “Let’s Misbehave” and “Take Me Back to Manhattan.”
Instead, for some inexplicable reason (among other "inexplicabilities"), we are given the character of Erma (Sarah Priestley), a character that is like a snarky, oversexed version of the more bubbly Bonnie, which is evident in Erma’s number “Buddie Beware” sung with a bevy of sailors (more on those sailors later).
Priestley’s performance, though, as Erma (the promiscuous girlfriend of Public Enemy #1 Snake Eyes Johnson who is never seen in the show), is scorchingly on point and entertaining, even if the character comes off as more lascivious compared to the kindlier Bonnie.
If you were to look at the libretto, the actual story components for "ANYTHING GOES" comprise about three pages compared to the music components which consume about 120 pages.
Okay, that is a total lie – it just feels like that, since whatever “story” exists for "ANYTHING GOES" is so preposterous - with multiple plot points and dialogue that make so little sense – that, thankfully, the story has been fairly well smothered by a musical pillow in the Porter score.
The above complaint supports that while "ANYTHING GOES" is a fun show to do, with exciting, vibrant dance numbers, two of which (the Act One closing title number and the second act rouser, “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”) are probably the best numbers in ANY musical EVER written, it is a tough show to sit through if you are trying to make sense of…well, anything.
(Photo: Sarah Priestley as “Erma” with Sailors in a moment from the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through October 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
In what little story exists in "ANYTHING GOES" - we meet Billy Crocker (Mike Ross), a young Wall Street broker, at a bar when he tells his friend, evangelist turned nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Dawn Ross) that he has fallen in love with heiress Hope (Ilana Whittaker), a beautiful woman he had a whirlwind romance with at a party.
Mike Ross is quite amusing as Crocker, who has been instructed by his boss, Elisha J. Whitney (Michael Dickson), to sell a critical stock as he prepares to set sail to London aboard the SS American.
In prior incarnations of the script, Billy tends to be a rather one-dimensional protagonist. In this latest version at Theatre at the Mount, he is far more rounded out, wittier and takes far more chances, usually leading him into trouble.
As fate would have it, Reno and Hope are also traveling aboard the same ship.
Again, don’t try to overthink things like amazingly unlikely coincidences – just go with it.
While Billy considers Reno a friend, Reno obviously has feelings for Billy, feelings which Dawn Ross emotes quite well as she sings the classic Porter tune "I Get a Kick Out of You."
Billy stows aboard to prevent Hope from marrying her fiancé, a foppish British nobleman named Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Chay Tower-Hughes), at the behest of her overbearing mother, Evangeline Harcourt (Terrie Lootens Hyde).
Also sneaking aboard for vastly different reasons is "Moonface" Martin (aka “Moon” - hilariously played by Thom Hardy), a second-rate gangster labeled "Public Enemy 13", and Erma.
Hardy is completely dominating as Moon who (again, inexplicably) likes and helps Billy who is absolutely overboard in love with Hope.
Unlike previous versions of the script which had Moon and Bonnie in a closer relationship, this Moon and Erma are still friends but might as well exist on separate ocean liners for all their lack of time on stage together.
In this version, the relationship between Moon and Reno is expanded, instead, which still makes for a fun time, thanks to the chemistry between Hardy and Dawn Ross, especially in their duet "Friendship."
The above song is also a great moment breaking the fourth wall and conceding just how silly this show is to the audience.
(Photo: Mike Ross as “Billy Crocker” listens to Thom Hardy philosophize as “Moonface Martin,” in a scene from the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through October 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
During Act Two, in one of Moon’s best numbers, he tries to cheer an incarcerated Billy up with the rascally philosophical "Be Like the Bluebird."
There are a couple of other "rascals" on the ship, Spit and Dippy (played respectively by Mikhail Gelineau and Grant Arbour) who cause some additional chaos while on board, resulting in some truly funny moments.
The balance of the Theatre at the Mount ensemble is made up of passengers, crew and Reno’s “Angels” which includes the delightful quartet of Charity (Amanda Lawton), Chastity (Jillian Whitney), Purity (Kristen Carpenito) and Virtue (Brianna Pascale).
By the way, you may have noticed this yourself but at no time will Hope join Reno’s girls, although it would almost seem like a match made in…”Heaven” (pun intended).
As Billy and Hope, there is little chemistry between Mike Ross and Whittaker, and the same problem exists in the budding romance between Dawn Ross as Reno and Tower-Huges as Hope’s fiancé, Sir Evelyn, weakening any romantic expectations.
And yet, since we already can tell just how this story is going to end, we will, once more, give the overall plot a pass and just enjoy the singing and dancing.
(Photo: Dawn Ross as “Reno Sweeney” with the CAST of the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through October 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
The crew of the ship includes fine performances by Jeremiah Riordon as the ship’s Captain and Hayley Blackmer/Murphy as the ship’s Purser.
Also, many of the ensemble highlights includes some excellent choreography and dancing performed by the sailors (Blake Ross, Michael Audet, Evan Piscitello and Timmy Chase) in numbers including “There’s No Cure Like Travel,” “Bon Voyage,” “There’ll Always Be a Lady Fair,” “All Through the Night” (again, for some inexplicable reason), and in Erma’s “Buddie Beware.”
The sailors are also prominently featured in the above-mentioned title number and as other characters in “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”
Many folks who recall the earlier versions of the show will no doubt recognize and appreciate the need for the removal of some negative stereotypes from the story.
This does not diminish in the slightest from the absolutely ridiculous nature of the story, which is perhaps in no small the reason for the show’s enduring appeal.
(Photo: Dawn Ross as “Reno Sweeney” is wooed by Chay Tower-Hughes as “Sir Evelyn Oakleigh” in a scene from the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through October 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
As to the show’s literary structure vs public perception:
The bows for "ANYTHING GOES" might always prove problematic for some, myself included, as they will always feature Reno as the star of the show as she spearheads the two most monumental musical numbers in the show.
However, again on a purely technical level, the "ANYTHING GOES" story is really about Billy. Billy is the hero or protagonist that is being aided BY Reno.
However, just imagine the poor sole playing Billy who would have to follow the mammoth ovation for Reno during the curtain call bows.
So, perhaps any company curtain call should remain the same (sorry, all you future "Billy" actors).
The production of "ANYTHING GOES" at the Mount is highly detailed and the set is simply gorgeous.
All the scene changes flow well and the cast and crew never falters in their execution.
Costumes are an absolute visceral delight and perfectly in sync with the time and place.
While there may be some questionable creative choices made along the way (like why was every woman at the end of Act One dressed in identical attire as Reno’s Angels and why the hell would Hope even be in that Act One finale number?) – again, take a tip from “Frozen” and just “let it go” and enjoy the show, because there is a lot to appreciate here.
(Photo: Chay Tower-Hughes as “Sir Evelyn Oakleigh,” demonstrates "The Byron in Me" to Dawn Ross as “Reno Sweeney” during the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through October 12, 2025. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
The musical voyage of "ANYTHING GOES" ends at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner on October 12th, 2025 so don’t miss the boat – get your tickets to this show now.
Up next at Theatre at the Mount will be “JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT,” running from November 28th through December 6th, 2025.
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by calling # 978-630-9388.
For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at # 978-630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
This review is dedicated to the memory of Laura (Dignard) Cavanaugh.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 45 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
In the Cole Porter musical "ANYTHING GOES" the S. S. American is sailing between New York and England with a comically colorful assemblage of passengers:
Reno Sweeney, a popular nightclub singer and former evangelist, her pal Billy Crocker, a lovelorn Wall Street broker who has come aboard to try to win the favor of his beloved Hope Harcourt (who is engaged to another passenger, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), and a second-rate conman named Moonface Martin, aka “Public Enemy #13”.
Song, dance, and farcical antics ensue as Reno and Moonface try to help Billy win the love of his life. (STAGEAGENT)
ABOUT THEATRE AT THE MOUNT
Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street
Gardner, MA. 01440
