STAGE REVIEW : Director Runs a Tight Ship in ‘Anything Goes’

Director Patrick J. Fennell, choreographer Susan Errickson and music director Diane King have served up an extravaganza with Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” at Saddleback College. Their snappy coordination of music, dance and setting is as bracing as a sea breeze.

An Atlantic crossing aboard the SS America provides the chance for members of all classes to mingle and attract. Funny how love seems to flourish after extended bouts with salt air.

Judicious casting accounts for much of the production’s success.

Michelle Mikesell shines as Reno Sweeney, a savvy showgirl, skinny legs and all. She goes respectable by shacking up with a noble English twit, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Charles Romero, whose accent becomes more Anglicized the closer he gets to Reno).

Billy Crocker (Bret McAllister) is a penniless, fast-on-his-feet right-hand man to Mr. Wall Street, Elisha J. Whitney (Cliff Rolfe). McAllister’s face absorbs light; it’s particularly luminous in the moonlit scenes. Billy eventually nabs wealthy Hope Harcourt (Kathi Cook), who sings like a nightingale.

Moonface Martin, brilliantly played by Terry Christopher, is a post office-posted public enemy (No. 13), crestfallen when he finds that he is no longer a public enemy. Of special note, too, are Reno’s blond-wigged Angels, who, twittering like parakeets, fill the nooks and crannies of the ship like gulls.

One of several musical standards this show produced, “You’re the Top,” sung by McAllister and Mikesell, effectively pairs his wisecracking, singing-telegram delivery and her let-it-all-hang-out voice.

Cook’s portion of “It’s De-Lovely,” is divine. Christopher’s hilarious “Be Like the Bluebird” finds the gruff, machine-gun-toting Moonface trying to sing like, well, a bluebird. The title tune, with Mikesell and the chorus, makes for a riveting finale to the first act. Easily the showstopper, though, is “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” as the full efforts of the director, conductor, choreographer, scenic designer and cast come together to get the ball rolling again into Act II.

So rollicking and tight is this production that even a couple of snafus last weekend could have been integrated into the story line. In “You’re the Top,” Mikesell and Crocker’s voices faded in and out of focus. No problem--they’re singing on deck of a ship at sea, after all. And when the deck got a little crowded with Reno’s Angels and other devilish types, there were a few missteps, a few turns cut short. But hey, they’re on the desk of a listing ship. . . .

‘ANYTHING GOES’

A Saddleback College Department of Theatre Arts production of the Cole Porter musical. Book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Director Patrick J. Fennell. With Michelle Mikesell, Bret McAllister, Terry Christopher, Kathi Cook, Gretchen Rolfe, Carlos Romero, Carolyn Velasco, Cliff Rolfe, Marty S. Silva, Mat Genuser, Alan Glueck, Jason M. Luong and Ken Kew. Also, Wendy Nelson, Lisa Bishop, Heather Kromer, Marissa Melhuse, Michelle Tudor, Jennifer Ahia, Kimberly Bueno, Shari Heatherly, Ryan B. Goldsmith, Derric Michael Neal, Bob German, Eric Beidelman, Rachelle Balduc, India Dupre, Robin Lynn Hickin, Darcie C. Green, Dee Spriet, Richard Stauffacher, Vincent Vessey and Angela Wren Wall. Conductor: Todd Helm. Choreographer: Susan Errickson. Musical director and pianist: Diane King. Scenic Designer: Wally Huntoon. Costume/makeup Designer: Charles Castagno. Lighting/sound Designer: Kevin A. Cook. Stage manager: Marla Lord. Plays Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. A show has been added today, 8 p.m. Through Sunday Feb. 17. At the McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Tickets: $8 and $9. Box office: (714) 582-4656, weekdays between noon and 4 p.m.