Everything went stupendously well as packed halls were treated to scintillating performances of Cole Porter’s musical “Anything Goes” at the end of November. Under Louise Dilloway’s direction, and with choreography by Alison Titchmarsh, the huge cast shone, sang, danced and acted their way through the show, set on board the SS American on her voyage from New York to England in 1934. The musical director was Louise Douglas.

Imogen had the audience captivated as she played the part of Reno, with great stage presence and poise. Katie as Crocker displayed fine acting skills despite losing her singing voice on the first night (she mimed the songs with extraordinary skillfulness and they were performed, also with great skill and at short notice, by off-stage understudies.) Tara played Lord Evelyn Oakley, with a great sense of fun and exactly the right mixture of toffishness and foppery. Only the limitations of space prevent the naming of more of these remarkable young players.

The whole production had a vitality that brought laughter and life to a cold winter’s evening: the proof lay in the fact that the audience came out humming and singing the songs. The period set, the lavish costumes, the lighting and sound – all these contributed to the overall spectacular effect. It was pure escapism too: the audience was transported back to the 1930s and enjoyed the style, the graciousness, the fun and exuberance that epitomise the best things about those otherwise harsh times. It was remarkable that this was captured so imaginatively by a cast who would have to look to their great grandparents for a first hand account of this era.

(Lots more photos, and rehearsal photos)