STAGE REVIEW : ‘ANYTHING GOES’ DOCKS IN LONG BEACH

Cole Porter’s raffish high-seas musical, “Anything Goes,” evokes a breezy cruise and screwball elegance on the upper deck. The production at the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, however, is anchored in the boiler room.

A few charming exceptions swim into view. The luxury liner set (courtesy of San Bernardino Civic Light Opera) is amply nautical, the libretto’s sweethearts (David Ruprecht and Andrea Walters) are strongly cast and completely winning, and Porter’s tunes (“It’s Delovely,” “You’re the Top,” “Let’s Misbehave”) are imperishable. But somebody forgot the Champagne.

The biggest disappointment is the star, Helen Reddy, who lacks fire as the evangelical hot mama, Reno Sweeney. Her dialogue attempts to effect the vocal snarl of Ethel Merman (who created the Sweeney role in 1934). But Reddy’s Merman-esque sass is neither bold nor convincing.

Like so much of the production, Reddy appears to be operating from a paint-by-numbers coloring book. Her form-fitting sequined gowns are attractive (costumes by Pamela Johnson-Gill). But her 1930s coiffure, waved and tinted so light that it actually ages the star, is a remarkable instance of hair design (by Rick Geyer) blow-drying life out of the character. This gal is supposed to have some sex appeal. Where are Reddy’s advisers? Deniability she doesn’t need.

(Interestingly, the last major mounting of “Anything Goes” in Los Angeles starred Ginger Rogers, in 1980 at the Wilshire Theater, and Rogers, for different reasons, was equally lackluster and miscast.)

Reddy, of course, reprising a role she performed at the Sacramento Music Circus, comes with some singing credentials. Her singular shining moment is “I Get a Kick Out of You.” That segues to the production’s nominal showstopper, the tap-crazy title number that ends the long and lumbering 75-minute first act.

The concluding second act, mercifully shorter at 50 minutes, fully exposes director John H. Lowe’s blatant trust in the corny antics of Mickey Deems as Moonbeam, the ship’s resident gangster in cleric collar. Deems cracks a line like a comic who just stepped out of an old burlesque show. He may be re-creating the role he played in the 1962 Off-Broadway revival of “Anything Goes,” but his routines don’t sync with the show’s airy (but not found here) style. Barbara Perry’s dowager, Ray Stewart’s dim-headed swain, Lisa Soland’s moll and Sweeney’s four saucy backup “angels” cut respectable paths. Stan Mazin’s choreography and Dennis Castellano’s musical direction are merely serviceable.

The company’s vast Terrace Theater remains acoustically muddied. In the 15th row of the orchestra section, words are too often lost and they come through as too heavily miked. Sound in the last row of the balcony is actually superior.

Performances are at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 202 E. Ocean Blvd., Wednesday through Saturday, 8:30 p.m., matinees Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m., through Aug. 9. Tickets: $11.50-$22.50. (213) 432-7926.