Anything Goes – The New BroadwayCast Recording
2011, Ghostlight Records
2011, Ghostlight Records
Between the seminal performance ofEthel Merman as Reno Sweeney and the 1980's role as re-imagined by theincomparable Patti Lupone, it's hard to imagine anyone being brave enough toreincarnate the role on The Great Way, much less standing on par with those twogreat ladies of theater. Yet if you were to ponder the current andup-and-coming stars of Broadway, you'd eventually settle on the notion that ifanyone could do it, it would be SuttonFoster. This must have entered the thinking of director/choreographerKathleen Marshall. Turns out it was right thinking. Just take a listen to thenew cast recording of The Roundabout Theatre's 2011 production of AnythingGoes, and you'll wonder if anyone has ever worn Reno Sweeney so well.
This show isn't just about Foster'sperformance so well. She is surrounded with a superb cast that includesBroadway legend Joel Grey (Cabaret, Wicked) as Moonface Martin, ColinDonnell as Billy Crocker and Laura Osnes (Grease, South Pacific, Bonnie &Clyde) as Hope Harcourt. The show is based on the same book and score used inthe 1987 Broadway Production with minor changes, but sticks very close to ColePorter's original vision. Highlights include Foster's performances on "IGet A Kick Out Of You", "Anything Goes" and "Blow GabrielBlow" and Grey's "Be Like The Bluebird", but the best chemistryoccurs on songs such as "You're The Top" (Foster & Donnell);"Friendship" (Foster & Grey), and "It's De-Lovely"(Donnell & Osnes). Jessica Stone makes a nice turn on "BuddieBeware", backed by the whole ensemble. Her voice is part ingénue and partmoll, an eclectic sound that's unforgettable and perfect for the role of Erma.
For all that goes well on the castrecording of Anything Goes, it doesn't quite have the pizzazz of the1987 cast recording, but it seems attributable to the use of all digitaltechnology which is as much a bane as a boon to musical purists. The cast, as awhole, is absolutely superb, and Sutton Foster and Joel Grey are everything youcould expect and more, and Laura Osnes building on her inarguable credibilityas a Broadway leading lady. It's easy to see why Anything Goes took homethree Tony Awards this year, including Best Revival, Best Actress In A Musical(Sutton Foster), and Best Choreography (Kathleen Marshall). Ghostlight Recordsdoes it again, documenting a wonderfully vibrant revival of a classic show witha cast recording of Anything Goes that will draw you back again andagain.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)
Learn more about Anything Goesat www.AnythingGoesBroadway.com or www.roundabouttheatre.org. Anything Goes - The New Broadway Cast Recording is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download. The album is also available via iTunes.
In case you need convincing, check out this clip from the Late Show with David Letterman: