Every so often in London we get a treat which is the essence of a Broadway big musical and this is the case with Cole Porter's musical Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre. This is essentially the production that wowed New York in 2011 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and winning Tonys.
Daniel Evans's production is a triumph! From the opening overture performed as a ballet by the lone figure of Liat (Sera Maehara) to the parade of the US Marines on the circular stage we know we are in an island in the South Seas, invaded by the American military.
This much-loved, Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical opened in 1949 to huge success, becoming one of Broadway’s longest running hit shows. It boasts one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most memorable scores, featuring songs such as Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and Bali Ha’i.