By SUSAN MCCABE
For The Beachcomber
Friday the 13th was a lucky day for Vashon High School thespians who opened their musical production “Anything Goes” on that night.
In this revival of Cole Porter’s 1934 play — one of the most performed shows in the American musical theater — VHS students show off their song and dance chops. And the fun they have on stage is infectious.
“Anything Goes” uses the music of Cole Porter to tell farcical stories of romance aboard the S.S. American. The ship heads to sea with a crew of singing sailors, tap-dancing passengers, a charismatic female evangelist turned nightclub singer and a gangster or two. Hijinks ensue in the classic style of Molière, with mistaken identities, misunderstandings and a few nefarious agendas thrown in for added spice.
The star of this show is the music, and the student performers pay quality homage to Porter’s songs, many of which have become American standards.
With musical direction from Maggie Laird, the play’s young singers belt and croon in all the right places, hitting high and low notes with impressive strength. As the story’s seductive vamp, Victoria Trujillo adds singing to her considerable dance achievements in previous Vashon shows. From her diminutive form, Trujillo delivers a powerful contralto with able range as she manages to tap, swing and sing with her fellow performers.
Hugh Davis, as the determined young lover, demonstrates a surprisingly mature singing and acting style with his smooth tenor voice and comfortable cast interaction.
The supporting cast of comic characters is strong. Senior Miles Wingett flavors his gangster Moonface Martin with touches of Broadway luminaries Ray Bolger and Tommy Tune, especially in his knockout performance of “Be Like the Bluebird.” Xavier Ajeto’s stuffy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh is hilarious as he reveals his freer self. Hannah Fellbaum as the gangsters’ maul dives into the comedy of her ditsy bombshell with both feet.
Director Stephen Floyd has mixed up the cast so that most of the principals get the chance to inhabit different characters during the three-weekend run of the play. Senior Joy Ghigleri, who plays the petulant mother of the bride one night, will play the racy nightclub singer another. Hannah Fellbaum will switch roles with Grace Brown, Friday’s sweet bride. Louisa Moody, one of Friday’s angels, will slip into the ditsy maul roll, and on it goes. It might be worth seeing several performances just to experience the varied talents of these young players.
The entire cast translates their delight into pure energy with a few big tap dance numbers choreographed by VCA Center for Dance teacher Chrissy Baker. Isaac Hughes and Miles Wingett lead the cast as they fly through the title song, “Anything Goes.” Wingett and Trujillo are pure joy in “Friendship,” one of the many standard tunes to come out of Porter’s creation.
Audiences will find themselves singing along with some of Broadway’s most memorable standards, including “I Get A Kick Out of You” and “You’re The Top.” The show is also a reminder of some lesser known gems like “The Gypsy in Me,” “There’s No Cure Like Travel” and “Buddy, Beware.”
Cast and crew alike seem to revel in this light musical farce — an opportunity to sing and dance their hearts out in contrast to today’s global and national discord. “Anything Goes” is just what the ship’s doctor ordered for a lightening of the heart.
