Written by Cliff McCollum
News Editor
The Opelika High Theatre Society is hoping audiences will “get a kick out of” this year’s spring musical, Cole Porter’s classic “Anything Goes.”
Revel Gholston, director of the OHTS, said he had considered doing a Porter musical for years.
“Cole Porter had always been one of my favorites, and I had always wanted to stage one of his shows with our group,” Gholston said, “but there were always other shows that were a better fit for the kids and talent we had that year.”
Gholston said over the last few years, the musicals staged by the theatre society have all happened to be set in Europe.
“Les Miserables, Oliver, Sweeney Todd. All set in Europe, all filled with casts who are dressed like poor, rag-covered urchins,” Gholston quipped. “I thought we might need to get out of that rut and go back to an older, more traditional American musical and stay out of Europe.”
Gholston added, wryly, that the ship that provides the setting for “Anything Goes,” is, in fact, heading to London.
“Europe made it in anyway,” Gholston said. “What can you do?”
“Anything Goes” follows the zany adventures of a colorful cast of characters on board an ocean liner from New York to London.
Billy Crocker, a stowaway on board the vessel, finds himself in love with the lovely Hope Harcourt, who is unfortunately engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh.
Crocker attempts to win back the love of Harcourt with the help of several other passengers, including ingenue Reno Sweeney and “Public Enemy Number 13” gangster Moonface Martin.
The musical includes some of Porter’s most well-known and beloved songs, including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “All Through the Night,” “You’re the Top,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Let’s Misbehave” and the titular “Anything Goes.”
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students.
The show will run at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts over the next two weeks. This evening’s performance begins at 7 p.m., and there will be a matinee performance Sunday at 3 p.m.
The show will be performed Friday, March 16 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 17 at 3 p.m.; and Sunday, March 18 at 3 p.m.
For more information, call 745-9715.
“It’s going to be a big, fun musical filled with big dance numbers and classic Porter songs,” Gholston said. “It really will be fun for the entire family, so please come and support the hard work these young actors have done over this semester.”