I’ll admit it straight away: I’ve been genuinely impressed by the standard of amateur theatre in Sheffield recently. Having enjoyed Young Frankenstein and Annie in the past 12 months, I was keen to see if Anything Goes would continue in that mold. It absolutely did.
Of course, it’s important to set expectations: you’re not going to get the same experience as a big budget West End tour at the Lyceum. But most audiences will be pleasantly surprised at just how polished these productions are. This show was no exception: excellent dance routines, super strong singing performances and an air of confidence from all the leads.
For those unfamiliar with Anything Goes, it’s a light-hearted, period-piece musical with music by Cole Porter, taking place on the S.S. American, bound for London. Stowaway Billy Crocker is determined to win Hope Harcourt, despite her rich English fiancé. With nightclub singer Reno Sweeney’s help, chaos ensues: gangsters, disguises, and mistaken identities all collide in this sharp, song-filled comedy.
The real highlight here was the cast. Annie Chadwick, playing Reno Sweeney, was simply superb. Despite a ten-year break from musical theatre, you’d never have known; it was a commanding, assured and thoroughly entertaining performance that wouldn’t have been out of place in a professional production. She was ably supported by Joe Pickin as Billy Crocker, the hopelessly besotted hero, and Evie Tooley as Hope Harcourt, who delivered a lovely, nuanced performance.
Also deserving of special mention were Jessica Brandao as Irma and Peter Krajewski as Moonface Martin, a pair of comic crooks who provided many of the evening’s biggest laughs. Both were funny, confident, and kept the energy high, especially as the show really hit its stride in the second half.
If I had one minor sympathy for the cast, it’s that it was a baking-hot evening in the Montgomery Theatre, and the crowd were a little quiet as a result. They deserved a louder response for their efforts.
Overall, this was a really strong production: tight, professional and enormous fun. If you’ve never tried one of the amateur productions at the Montgomery, you’re missing out on a vibrant part of Sheffield’s cultural scene.
