Anything Goes

Stray Cats’ production of Anything Goes is a huge production, playing to receptive audiences at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. Featuring a cast of 66, an orchestra of 17, a myriad of crew and creatives and a huge set, this is a production that delivers a lot. 

At the centre of this show is an amazing leading lady. Emily Lambert inhabits Reno Sweeney beautifully in a top-notch performance that wows at every opportunity. A true triple threat with seemingly endless energy, Emily Lambert is a sassy Reno who wins over her audience and holds them in awe throughout.

Braeden Geuer is a very likeable and charming Billy Crocker, and we enjoy following his journey. The object of Billy’s affections, debutante Hope Harcourt, is played with great sweetness by Tannah Pridmore, while her fiancé is played with lovely comic skills by Azza Gee - he is probably the strongest dancer I have seen in this role, and this was used to great effect.

The bad-guy-of-sorts (villain-light) is played very well by Alex White, although I was confused as to why he was not wearing a clerical collar, which seems key to the story. His partner in crime was very impressively voiced by Kristie Corbishley, an overtly sexy Irma. Andy Vernie and Alyssa Burton were larger-than-life, igniting the mature romance of Elisha Whitney and Evangeline Harcourt.

The roles of Chinese Christian-converts Luke and John are very tricky in 2022, especially if played by western women rather than Asian men, but Charlie Baker and Zoe Hubbard seemed to be doing their best to deliver respectful performances that did not resort to caricature. Aidan Thomas was an upright Captain, nicely supported by Mandurah stalwart Colin Howe as the Purser. Matthias Zver made the most of his short appearance as the minister and lead the dancing sailors well. Amy Elliot and Sheryl Gale were the most vocal of the passengers aboard S. S. American.