BEHS Drama Club's Anything Goes is a hit musical
BY RONAHN CLARKE
Throughout the first week of May, the BEHS Drama Club presented Anything Goes, a musical that originally debuted in the 1930s featuring the musics and lyrics of Cole Porter. The musical was performed at the Bourgoin Auditorium here at the high school, and was attended by teachers, students, and other members of the community. The product of the efforts of dozens of people here at BEHS, including director and choreographer MaryEllen Schaper, Anything Goes was a resounding success on stage.
Anything Goes, a play which chronicles the chaotic occurrences aboard an ocean liner travelling from New York to London, is based off of a book revised in 1934 by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The play originally featured things such as a bomb threat, a shipwreck, and hijinks on a desert island, but was toned down after a fire aboard the SS Morro Castle caused the deaths of over 100 passengers merely weeks before the play was scheduled to be released.
“This cast and crew are a very hardworking group of students who endured many obstacles in preparing for this production,” wrote Ms. Schaper. “I am very proud of their work, and I think you will be too.”
The protagonist of Anything Goes is Billy Crocker, a young lovestruck broker played in the BEHS rendition by Jared Curtis, who fit the relatively comedic role perfectly. Billy’s love interest, Hope Harcourt (Hattie Skvorak), is also travelling aboard the SS American, but is worryingly engaged to a hapless British noble named Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Mike Foley).
Billy is assisted by Moonface Martin (Mia White), an endearing but buffoonish gangster disguised as a preacher aboard the ship. The roles of Crocker and Martin were originally written for the well-known comedy duo of William Gaxton and Victor Moore. Moonface Martin proved to be the perfect character in the BEHS rendition of the musical; while remarkably funny, he wasn’t there solely for comedic relief.
Mia White, who lamented always being cast as a man, wrote in her biography (printed in the program given to attendees) that, “Mia is a guy. Let us rephrase that — she plays a guy in every musical.”
Musicals are among the toughest presentations to produce because not everyone who can act can sing, but the BEHS Drama Club mastered most if not all of Cole Porter’s compositions. Accompanied by a band (concealed on the stage behind the set of the musical), each song elicited applause from Saturday’s audience. The romantic duo of Billy Crocker and Hope Harcourt (played by Jared Curtis and Hattie Skvorak) anchored many of the musical performances of Anything Goes.
The pit orchestra featured music director Allen Thomas on the piano, Melissa Shabo, Cara Kinney, Aaron Leach, Justin Leach, Steve Manchester, Gary McWhinnie, Taylor Milliken, and Nick Pruner. The orchestra played an important role in opening the play and re-opening the play following a short intermission, and was occasionally visible over the tops of the set.
Mr. Rick Osann served as the musical’s producer and technical director. Following the musical, the BEHS Drama Club honored both its graduating seniors and the play’s hard-working adult contributors by presenting them with roses.
Senior Gerald Davis, who was among the sound crew and not visible to the audience, is a graduating homeschooled student from Hollis. Anything Goes was also senior MacKenzie Gifford’s final show here at Bonny Eagle; she wrote in her biography that she wanted to thank everyone for working with her on her choreography. Bonnie, the energetic girlfriend of gangster Moonface Martin, was played by senior Rose Michelson. Rose delivered a great performance when she led the recital of Heaven Hop, a musical number that was introduced to Anything Goes by its 1962 revival. Senior Hunter Nadeau excellently played Elisha J. Whitney, the drunkard and moderately aggressive boss of Billy Crocker, and joyously accepted his rose at the end of the production. Molly Morrison, who participated heavily in the drama club at her previous school, was cast as a steward in Anything Goes. Molly writes that, “She has always loved being a part of the music and theatre department in every way possible.”
The BEHS performance was produced by special arrangements with the Tams Witmark Music Library in New York City. Congratulations to the BEHS Drama Club and all others involved in the production of Anything Goes for a successful musical!
Anything Goes, a play which chronicles the chaotic occurrences aboard an ocean liner travelling from New York to London, is based off of a book revised in 1934 by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The play originally featured things such as a bomb threat, a shipwreck, and hijinks on a desert island, but was toned down after a fire aboard the SS Morro Castle caused the deaths of over 100 passengers merely weeks before the play was scheduled to be released.
“This cast and crew are a very hardworking group of students who endured many obstacles in preparing for this production,” wrote Ms. Schaper. “I am very proud of their work, and I think you will be too.”
The protagonist of Anything Goes is Billy Crocker, a young lovestruck broker played in the BEHS rendition by Jared Curtis, who fit the relatively comedic role perfectly. Billy’s love interest, Hope Harcourt (Hattie Skvorak), is also travelling aboard the SS American, but is worryingly engaged to a hapless British noble named Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Mike Foley).
Billy is assisted by Moonface Martin (Mia White), an endearing but buffoonish gangster disguised as a preacher aboard the ship. The roles of Crocker and Martin were originally written for the well-known comedy duo of William Gaxton and Victor Moore. Moonface Martin proved to be the perfect character in the BEHS rendition of the musical; while remarkably funny, he wasn’t there solely for comedic relief.
Mia White, who lamented always being cast as a man, wrote in her biography (printed in the program given to attendees) that, “Mia is a guy. Let us rephrase that — she plays a guy in every musical.”
Musicals are among the toughest presentations to produce because not everyone who can act can sing, but the BEHS Drama Club mastered most if not all of Cole Porter’s compositions. Accompanied by a band (concealed on the stage behind the set of the musical), each song elicited applause from Saturday’s audience. The romantic duo of Billy Crocker and Hope Harcourt (played by Jared Curtis and Hattie Skvorak) anchored many of the musical performances of Anything Goes.
The pit orchestra featured music director Allen Thomas on the piano, Melissa Shabo, Cara Kinney, Aaron Leach, Justin Leach, Steve Manchester, Gary McWhinnie, Taylor Milliken, and Nick Pruner. The orchestra played an important role in opening the play and re-opening the play following a short intermission, and was occasionally visible over the tops of the set.
Mr. Rick Osann served as the musical’s producer and technical director. Following the musical, the BEHS Drama Club honored both its graduating seniors and the play’s hard-working adult contributors by presenting them with roses.
Senior Gerald Davis, who was among the sound crew and not visible to the audience, is a graduating homeschooled student from Hollis. Anything Goes was also senior MacKenzie Gifford’s final show here at Bonny Eagle; she wrote in her biography that she wanted to thank everyone for working with her on her choreography. Bonnie, the energetic girlfriend of gangster Moonface Martin, was played by senior Rose Michelson. Rose delivered a great performance when she led the recital of Heaven Hop, a musical number that was introduced to Anything Goes by its 1962 revival. Senior Hunter Nadeau excellently played Elisha J. Whitney, the drunkard and moderately aggressive boss of Billy Crocker, and joyously accepted his rose at the end of the production. Molly Morrison, who participated heavily in the drama club at her previous school, was cast as a steward in Anything Goes. Molly writes that, “She has always loved being a part of the music and theatre department in every way possible.”
The BEHS performance was produced by special arrangements with the Tams Witmark Music Library in New York City. Congratulations to the BEHS Drama Club and all others involved in the production of Anything Goes for a successful musical!
