'Anything Goes' showcases good actors, errant singers

Cole Porter would have been pleased with the Law School Light Opera Company's rendition of his Anything Goes. Thirty Law School students shed their inhibitions and went all out to surprise the audience with the performance. The musical is set on board a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and the itinerary is complete with romance, deception, religion and crime. The main plot is about a man trying to steal an old love away from her current fiance. The acting was superb and sometimes tended to overshadow the singing. The singers represented a wide spectrum in terms of quality, ranging from the very bad to the excellent. Several people are especially worth watching. Second-year Law student Shannon Louden's role as Reno Sweeney, an evangelist turned nightclub singer, allowed her to maximize the use of her strong voice. On the other hand, first-year Law student Gabrielle Roventini's performance as the undecided bride-to-be made most of the audience wince. Her voice changed abruptly from a baritone to a falsetto several times. Second-year Law student Jim Bramson as Moonface Martin threatened to steal the show. His one-liners were excellently delivered, and while his singing was mediocre, his acting more than compensated. It was a shame that third-year Law student Patty Carroll's role as Eliza Whitney did not allow her to sing until the show was almost over. Her performance in "Take Me Back To Manhattan" was proof of her talent. Unfortunately, that was the only number in which she sang a solo. Two hapless professors from the Law School were given "supporting" roles in the musical. While neither had to dance or sing, they had to act as gamblers cheating people on board the ship. The costume and set designers deserve congratulations. The set was ingenious, and the running crew was able to make over eight set changes smoothly. The costumes were equally admirable. The variety the designers had to produce was in itself impressive. The dance sequences were made mainly for the women cast members, and the men were tucked discreetly in the back of the chorus line. The effect was mostly comic, however, and the choreography by Lisa Washington was entertaining. The audience found the evening enjoyable. Many audience members may have had the added pleasure of seeing friends and professors in an awkward situation, but the content and delivery of the musical are good enough that anybody can enjoy the evening. Anything Goes continues this Saturday in the Annenberg School Theatre. Performances are at 8:00 p.m. and tickets are available at the Annenberg Box Office.