Bloomington aboard for ‘Anything Goes’

The orchestra warmed up below the stage, gathering steam, and then the steam whistle itself blew — and the cast of “Anything Goes” set sail for a romping, roving musical comedy.

The play, which features some of Cole Porter’s best-known hits, opened Friday night at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. Performances will continue from Tuesday through Saturday, which will include a matinée.

“It’s a triple threat with the singing, acting and dancing,” Bloomington resident Donna Cohen said.

Broke broker Billy Crocker (played by junior Ethan Carpenter) falls in love with Hope Harcourt (senior Kerry Ipema), after 12 hours in a taxicab with her. When he catches sight of her on the cruise ship his boss is taking, he decides to stow away and win her heart.

His attempts are complicated by her engagement to Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, (junior Ryan Dooley). Fortunately, nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (sophomore Erica Johnson) and “Public Enemy #13” Moonface Martin come to his aid.

Senior Martin Brent, who plays Moonface, said his character, who disguises himself as a minister to board the ship, is very intense.

“There were only a few possibly right (characters) for me: the oddball characters,” Brent said.

Just as these New Yorkers boarded the cruise liner to travel to London, out-of-towners traveled to Bloomington to see the show. Chris Urbanowski, a Martinsville resident, said she loves the music of Cole Porter.

“The lyrics are really clever, the melodies are catchy and fun and positive,” Urbanowski said. “They’re doing a wonderful job.”

Senior Laura Whittenberger, whose brother A.J. (also a senior) played a sailor in the musical, was likewise enthused about the music.
“I love Cole Porter,” Whittenberger said. “It’s so classic.”

Act One ended with the play’s titular “Anything Goes” as the entire cast filled the stage in a tap-dancing extravaganza headed by Reno Sweeny. Decadent 1930s style costumes swished and swayed, fringes flying and feet tapping.

“I drew my inspiration (for the choreography) from everything. Music, costumes, sets, absolutely everything,” choreographer and senior William Angulo said.

Angulo, who is the first student to choreograph an entire play for the IU Department of Theatre, said the production was dance-heavy.

“It’s special how the sailors moved and set up the pieces, tap dancing the whole time,” Whittenberger said.  

As the play continued, Billy changed identities frequently to avoid being mistaken for dangerous criminal Snake Eyes Johnson, whose passport he borrowed from Moonface. Cross-dressing, strip poker and hilarity ensued.

“The crowd was incredible,” Brent said. “I’ve never heard so much applause or seen the audience light up like that.”