Anything Goes

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Anything Goes is a musical comedy with the music and lyrics of Cole Porter . The book is by Guy Bolton and PG Wodehouse , the revision by Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay , who also directed. The show was produced by Vinton Freedley . The premiere took place on November 21, 1934 at the Alvin Theater in New York . It was the first of five Broadway musicals ( Red, Hot and Blue , Du Barry Was a Lady , Panama Hattie , Something for the Boys ) composed for Cole Porter and in which Ethel Merman played the lead role. William Gaxton and Victor Moore could also be seen in other leading roles .

The first performance in London's West End on June 14, 1935 at the Palace Theater was produced by Charles B. Cochran .
The German-language premiere took place on February 10, 1981 in the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern . The translation into German for it came from Christian Severin, Hartmut H. Forche and Lida Winiewicz.

action

On board the transatlantic liner SS America on the New York-London route, a colorful company meets: the nightclub singer and former lay preacher Reno Sweeney, accompanied by her variety girls; the financially troubled widow Evangeline Harcourt accompanied by her daughter Hope and the Englishman Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, who was chosen as a wealthy son-in-law; the priest disguised crook and public enemy No. 2, Moonface Martin, accompanied by Bonnie, the bride "Snake Eyes", America's most wanted criminal (Public Enemy No. 1); a real spiritual dignitary accompanied by two proselytized Chinese who ripped off the passengers; the stockbroker Elisha Whitney and finally (in addition to reporters, FBI agents and the rest of the ship's personnel) his assistant, Billy Crocker, who sneaks in as a stowaway to prevent his new love Hope Harcourt from marrying Sir Oakleigh with the help of his old friend Reno .

Because of this, Billy has to slip into different roles. With a false identity, namely with the papers "snake eyes", he soon gets into the crosshairs of the suspicious captain, has to disguise himself as a sailor, but is exposed as a supposed criminal and surprisingly, in the absence of other celebrities, is celebrated as a guest of honor. Only when he reveals his true identity does he end up in prison, along with the false priest and the two Chinese who were caught cheating. There he takes over the Chinese costumes with Moonface, and now the two, now as fake Chinese, compromise Sir Oakleigh, who is actually a gypsy, with his past in China, where he had a mess with an Asian beauty. Hope, who has long since decided in favor of Billy and sees through the game, turns away from Sir Oakleigh and, allegedly as atonement, wants to marry one of the Chinese, Billy. Sir Oakleigh doesn't mind, he's taken a fancy to Reno now. To his disappointment, Moonface Martin learns that he has been removed from the list of public enemies by the FBI, but is comforted with Bonnie. And Hope's mother Evangeline Harcourt doesn't go away empty-handed either; she takes the stockbroker Elisha Whitney, whose successful stock market business made him a millionaire.

In the later revivals, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh becomes a lord. Snake-eye bride Bonnie is named Erma.

Music numbers

title Performers length Note on various productions
Overture orchestra 4:08 Medley of elements from the songs "Anything Goes", "You're the Top", "All Through the Night", "Friendship" and again "Anything Goes"
I get a kick out of you Reno Sweeney 2:14
(There's No Cure Like Travel) / Bon Voyage Sailor, girl, crew and ensemble 3:45 partly (ex. 2003) in three parts: “There's No Cure Like Travel” (1:14) - “Bon Voyage” (1:22) - “Reprise: There's No Cure Like Travel” (1:09)
All through the night Billy Crocker, Hope Harcourt and Men 3:56 in the productions of 1962, 1987, 2003 and 2011 moved to the second act
You'd Be So Easy to Love Billy Crocker 3:20 Removed from the program in 1934, reintegrated into the productions of 1987, 2003 and 2011 as “Easy to Love”; 2003 immediately followed by a 21-second recapitulation
I want to row on the crew Elisha J. Whitney 1:31 introduced in the 1987 production, used again in 2003, renamed to "The Crew Song" for 2011
Sailor's Shanty (There'll Always Be A Lady Fair) Quartet of sailors 2:55 not included in the 1962 production
Where are the men? Bonnie replaced by "Heaven Hop"
You're the top Reno Sweeney, Billy Crocker 4:53 in the staging of 2003 prior Easy to Love placed
Waltz Down the Aisle Billy Crocker, Hope Harcourt Taken out in 1934
Friendship Reno Sweeney, Moonface Martin 3:02 Introduced in the 1962 production, only sung by Billy Crocker in 1962
It's De-Lovely Billy Crocker, Hope Harcourt 4:40 introduced in the 1962 production
Anything Goes Reno Sweeney and Ensemble 4:30
Entr'acte orchestra 2:23 Beginning of the second act; part (eg. 2003) Interlude referred
Public Enemy Number One Captain, purser and ensemble 1:51
Let's step out Bonnie only included in the 1962 production
What a Joy to be Young Hope Harcourt only included in the 1934 production, removed before the Broadway premiere
Let's misbehave Reno Sweeney, Sir Evelyn only included in the 1962 production
Blow, Gabriel, Blow Reno Sweeney and Ensemble 7:16 follows "Public Enemy Number One" in the productions of 1987, 2003 and 2011
Goodbye, little dream, goodbye Hope Harcourt 1:42 only included in the productions of 1987, 2003 and 2011
Be like the bluebird Moonface Martin 2:15
Reprise: All Through the Night Billy Crocker, Hope Harcourt In the productions of 1987, 2003 and 2011, the original version of the song can only be found here (see Act I), there is no recapitulation
The Gypsy in Me Hope Harcourt 3:39 sung by Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in productions of 1987, 2003 and 2011
Buddie, Beware Reno Sweeney 3:09 sung by Erma and the sailors in the productions of 1987 and 2011
Take Me Back to Manhattan Reno Sweeney only included in the 1962 production
Finale: I Get a Kick Out of You Reno Sweeney and Ensemble 1:43 replaced "Buddie Beware" during the 1934 season; Performed as the final song in almost all subsequent productions; Replaced in 2011 by a new song to the melody of "It's De-Lovely"
Bows: Anything Goes ensemble 1:14 Presented in 2003 as an encore during the bowing

Film adaptations

Anything Goes was filmed in 1936 by the director Lewis Milestone with a different score (score). The main roles were Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman .
A 1956 Anything Goes version by Robert Lewis , also with Bing Crosby, only uses a few songs from the Porter Score.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Information on the length of the song is taken from the 2003 London Cast Recording as an example . The times may vary slightly depending on the performance and recording.