Weekend To Do: Anything Goes at Winspear Opera House

Watching Roundabout Theatre Company’s delightful (and a little bit saucy) production of Anything Goes at the Winspear Opera House last night reminded me why Thoroughly Modern Millie is my favorite musical. In fact, Anything Goes (first opened in 1934) is remarkably similar to the 2002 musical. There’s a good boy, a good girl, a caricature of a man with a very deep singing voice, an ambitious actress, an overtly sexual redhead, and (shockingly) two men of Asian decent.

Despite the major differences in their debut, the two musicals place an important emphasis on two things: the free-spirited, ambitious woman is the true star of the show (Reno in Anything Goes and Millie more obviously in Thoroughly Modern Millie) and neither takes themselves too seriously. Somehow everyone ends up happily ever after, despite ridiculous obstacles, and somehow, everyone ends up engaged.

Though unnervingly similar, Millie still takes the cake for me because of its true devotion to not taking itself seriously. Anything Goes seems to be trying to take itself somewhat seriously until the second half when the real fun begins.

But all of this is a critique of the play itself, and not Roundabout Theatre’s production, which was absolutely wonderful. The costumes were breathtaking, the sets were beautiful, and the performances were truly remarkable, particularly that of Rachel York (Rachel Sweeney). If York ever sang a duet with Michael Buble, I could die happy.

Anything Goes’ engagement at the Winspear Opera House is a quick one, so please don’t miss your chance to go this weekend. It’s a de-lovely little escape for this unnaturally chilly weekend.

For more information about the show and tickets, head to attpac.org.

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