Theater Review: Anything Goes

                     Cast of SDMT's "Anything Goes"

Anything goes, all right, especially when your characters include kids named Snip and Dippy, several guys in priestly collars who are criminals, and a passel of mismatched lovers.

But never mind, this is Cole Porter and with songs like this, you can invent whatever stage craziness you want and it’s okay. In fact, it’s always fun and often hilarious. The singing is excellent all around, and the dancing (much of it tap, popular in 1934 when this show was written) sparkles.

Omri Schein directs San Diego Musical Theatre’s sparkling version of the musical through March 12. Better hurry and get those tickets.

It would take too long to mention all the outstanding performers, but a few really must be named. Anthony Michael Vacio plays young stowaway Billy Crocker, easy to look at and listen to, who is in nearly every scene. 

Local favorite Allison Spratt Pierce, who is beautiful and sings like an angel (and often something a bit more earthbound), owns the role of Reno. And the lady can dance.

Christianne Holly Santiago is lovely and charming as the put-upon young Hope Harcourt, ordered around by the nose (not quite literally) by her annoyingly autocratic mother Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt (brilliantly played by another local favorite, Wendy Waddell). 

Kara Tuckfield is a stitch as the ship’s Captain, who tries to keep things running on an even keel.

The show is quite long, something like 2-1/2 hours. l might have preferred to see just the first act, from which I emerged absolutely thrilled. The second, shorter act adds to the length but not the plot (unless you absolutely insist on knowing how everything turns out).

But this is a wonderful show.

Remaining shows: March 9 @ 7 p.m.; March 10 at 8 p.m.; March 11 at 3 and 8 p.m.; March 12 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: sdmt.na.ticketsearch.com