ALL ABOARD for a spectacular new production of Cole Porter’s classic Broadway show, Anything Goes.
The SS American sets sails next week from the Lawrence Batley Theatre packed with a top notch Huddersfield Amateur Operatic Society crew.
Audiences are invited to sit back and enjoy the trip as this classic Broadway musical sets sails on a journey which sees two unlikely couples set course for true love.
This is the show that suggests that in that area at least maybe destiny really does need a bit of a helping hand now and then.
And here, destiny gets a nudge in the right direction from a crew of singing sailors, a small-time gangster masquerading as a minister of religion and some good old-fashioned blackmail.
There are plenty of mistaken identities and mix-ups and just the right amount of goofiness to remind you that this story was, after all, the brainchild of that man P G Wodehouse. It’s larky, light-hearted and lovely.
It is more than 20 years since the society last staged this delightful show which is packed with memorable Cole Porter songs including, I Get a Kick out of You, You’re The Top, It’s De-Lovely, and of course, the title song, Anything Goes.
The show opens on Tuesday in the LBT’s main house and runs all week with evening performances until Saturday plus a Saturday matinee.
It promises to be a spectacular show with bags of big dance numbers and lots of humour to add to those show-stopping Cole Porter classic tunes.
The talented young cast has been rehearsing hard with choreographer Louise Dowling and long-serving musical director Gordon Balmforth to get those big numbers step and note perfect.
David Fletcher has returned to the society this year to direct the show which has plenty of crazy comedy and complex relationships to work out before those shipboard romances are resolved as the SS American steams its way across the Atlantic.
The Amateurs have put together a strong team of young performers to play in what promises to be a bright and funny show with plenty of foot tapping dance numbers at its heart.
Many of the principals have played in previous shows including Scott Armstrong, who has played leading roles for Huddersfield Amateurs for a number of years.
Here Scott plays Billy Crocker who stows away on the ship to be near the girl he loves.
This should be just the kind of show for Scott who is a former professional dancer and has played many leading roles in the town in recent years.
Sophie Hughes, who plays debutante Hope Harcourt, Dan Sean Henry, who is cast as Moonface Martin and Leanne Harrison who plays Bonnie all had leading roles in the society’s production of Fame which it staged last year.
Also centre stage will be Becki Cawthra who has joined the society from Halifax where she has impressed audiences with her performances in musicals.
Becki with be aiming to wow audiences in Huddersfield with her performance as Reno Sweeney, the nightclub singer who is never far from the centre of what goes on on board the SS American.
Evening performances start at 7.15pm and the Saturday matinee is at 2.15pm. Ticket prices range from £6 to £17.50 (concessions available).
Tickets are available from the LBT box office on 01484 430528 or you can book online at www.thelbt.org
Join them for what promises to be a week that will lift the spirits and give you liberal dose of the feel good factor before winter sets in.
