MIDCOAST YOUTH THEATER’S “Anything Goes” cast members, left to right, Annabelle Gardiner, Lilly Gardiner, Izzi Mickunas, Chloe Teboe and Soli Rhodes.
Shows are today, July 26 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. All performances are at the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.
Set in 1934, the SS American, sailing from New York to England, carries an unusual group of passengers. Included amongst them are a goofy gangster Moonface Martin played by Drew Gallant, a wealthy debutante and her mother, Hope and Evangeline Harcourt played by Elisabeth Nelson and Claire Mendes, an evangelist turned nightclub singer Reno Sweeny played by Izzi Mickunas, and a wealthy New York businessman and his stowaway assistant Eli Witney and Billy Crocker played by Caleb Streadwick and Reece Reed. There are numerous plot twists and mini-plots within the bigger story.
Nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney is 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 played by Lukas Schipper and Billy must keep his boss, Eli Whitney, from seeing him on board since he is supposed to back on Wall Street selling stock. Eli is too busy drinking and chasing his love, Mrs. Harcourt.
Joining the passengers on the luxury liner are Public Enemy No. 13, Moonface Martin, who is disguised as a minister, and his sidekick-incrime Erma, played by Corynne Zinni, who the men on board find very appealing. 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.
The captain of the ship played by Sam Allen goes out of his mind with all of this chaos and his highly efficient purser played by Ally Collins tries to keep up with it all.
Reno’s backup singers and dancers extraordinaire are called Angels and are played by dance captain Annabelle Gardiner with Lilly Gardiner, Chloe Teboe, Soli Rhodes, and Deidre Sachs. Other featured dancers are NancyMae Madarasz, Rebecca Schuman, and Alice Johnson. Hannah Vilas is a featured singer along with a true quartet of male sailors played by Ben Flanagan, Garrett Gelwick, Zack Collins and Markis Larrivee. The ensemble plays passengers and other various characters played by Nadine Bellevue, Erin Butts, Libbey Masse, Jennifer Comeau, Aurora Dolham, Macey Downs, Simone Maderal, Isabel Drehobl and Kate Lord.
The production is directed by Tammy Fishe and assistant directed by Bryce Reed with choreography by Linda Gardiner and musical direction by Courtney Babbidge. Maggie Bouthot is producer and Jonathan Church stage manager, while Linda Gardiner is also the costumer.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students/seniors and are available at the door. For more information, call 751- 2619 or visit the MYT website www.youth-theater.org.
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