With Palmer High, 'Anything Goes'

PALMER — As school gets ready to close its doors to most Mat-Su Valley students for the summer, so closes another year of theater at Palmer High School (PHS).

Wrapping up an engaging year of British farces, serious dramsa and other notable productions, PHS music director Stan Harris decided to move in on creating a grand finale full of comedy, dance and song with the musical “Anything Goes.”

“Anything Goes” is a parody set on the decks of an ocean liner bound for London from New York. The original idea came from producer Vinton Freedley, who was living on a boat in 1934, pulling his experiences and imagination from that time. Freedley recruited director and writers Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse to write the original script and Cole Porter to supply the tunes.

In the musical, Billy Crocker (James Viera), a young love-sick Wall Street broker, stows away on the S.S. American, in hopes of winning the heart of his beloved Hope Harcourt (Rachel Kenley). His boss, Yale graduate Elisha J. Whitney, is also on board. He plans to relax before the tremendous sale of his own company’s stock.

Hope is on her way to England to marry Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, a hapless British nobleman. Also onboard are “Moonface” Martin (Micah Fry), a second-rate gangster on the run, and his friend Bonnie. The two have disguised themselves as a minister and a missionary after leaving the ship’s real chaplain back in New York.

On board, Crocker runs into an old friend, Reno Sweeney (Sierra Lamb), a nightclub singer, who decides to help Billy win over Hope, to the dismay of Hope’s mother, Mrs. Harcourt (Madison Moss), who insists, quite comically, she still marry Evelyn.

Billy coincidentally learns the true identities of Moonface and Bonnie, and in exchange for his silence, they contrive a plan to break up Hope and Evelyn. However, Bonnie and Moonface let Billy have Snake Eyes Johnson’s identity, without telling him to whom it belongs. Eventually the ship’s crew discover that Public Enemy number 1 is on board, and Billy has to take on a hilarious disguise.

As the show progresses, Hope, Evelyn, Billy, Reno, Elisha, Mrs. Harcourt, Bonnie, and Moonface all end up in a variety of compromising positions that leaves for some good comedy mingled with back-to-back musical numbers.

Cole Porter’s music comes to life with classics such as “You’re the Top,” “DeLovely,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” and of course, the title track, still familiar with audiences 70 years later.

As a comedy-musical, “Anything Goes” has plenty of young talent, courtesy of the music and art department at PHS.

Junior James Vierra’s voice is American Idol at its best, producing some of the most memorable musical moments of the production.

Micah Fry, familiar to PHS’ stage, produces the most laughs as the fumbling, bumbling “Moonface” Martin.

For “Anything Goes,” Harris — who in “Anything” plays the flute in the 15 plus person orchestra — handed his customary directing duties over to friend and long time Valley director Grant Olson, who agreed PHS’ musical would be perfect to close the school’s busy year with a bang.

“I’ve done three other musicals in the past,” he said. “So Stan knew to call on me.”

Olson had just finished directing “Run For your Wife” for the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPA) when Harris had asked him to jump on board with his PHS students. Olson said he noticed there was a lot of talent in the music and voice departments at PHS this year during auditions.

After an early start in February, students commitment level were at first all over the board, something Olson said he was at first fairly uneasy about.

“Students were missing rehearsals due to spring break and other obligations,” he said. “But we finally pulled it together.”

Olson said PHS’ music and theater department is one of the best in the Valley, adding that he hopes graduates possessing stage talent will pursue other productions after high school.

“Palmer High has a very active music department,” he said. “These kids are amazing. Some of showed interest in taking it to the next level, but it really comes down to choices.”

Olson said that during rehearsals, there were some big surprises.

“I really didn’t know who would play Reno Sweeney,” he said, “so Sahara [Lamb] was a nice surprise. She combines her talents in this one.”

Olson followed the original script, noting most people can still relate to the subject matter, even though the piece is set in the 1930s.

“When Stan gave me the script, I had to call Rod Mehrtens, who is very clever with stage design.”

Rotating scenes were carefully constructed for PHS’ small stage to give the illusion that cast members were on a cruise ship.

Dance scenes, including intimate slow dances and tap numbers, are pulled off impressively, with impeccable timing, due in large part to choreographer Brenda Hansen.

Olson hopes the young talents will move their high school stage experience to the next level and jump on auditioning for other local productions in the future.

“This group has been reticent,” Olson said. “I don’t see many of them attending VPA or other shows, and for actors it’s important for them to see other work.”

Olson said if anything, people should come to see “Anything Goes” for the fine musical numbers and talent of Cole Porter.

“They are pieces that have stood the test of time,” he said.

“Anything Goes” begins at 7 p.m. tonight, Saturday and will again play May 8 to 10 at the Palmer High School theater. For reservations, contact 746-8403. Admission is $10 per person.