Champagne and Baloney? The Taste of ‘Anything Goes’

Music Theatre of Southern California’s lavish revival of “Anything Goes” affords a splendid opportunity to once again plumb the depths of sophistication in Cole Porter’s timeless songs. With their dazzling internal rhymes wedded to piercing insights into the human condition, Porter’s show tunes can still net a captive audience.

There’s a catch, however: The songs’ very sophistication clashes disconcertingly with the show’s lowbrow plot antics. This may have been an acceptable convention when the nautically themed show set sail in 1934, but congruence of character and lyrics has steadily gained importance since then. The retooled 1987 book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman, used here by director John Vaughn, added some key songs and updated some topically dated script elements, but never solved this inherent dissonance.

Jaded nightclub singer Reno Sweeney is the show’s only dramatically satisfying character, because her life experience justifies and informs her deeply penetrating songs. Fortunately, Cynthia Ferrer is terrific in this pivotal role. A capable Merman-esque belter, Ferrer also brings her own delicacy and refinement to her delivery.

Setting aside the plot-song disconnect, this revival’s other main charms are the engaging clowning by George Strattan as gangster Moonface Martin; a show-stopping rendition of “Buddy, Beware” by Tracy Cox as his moll; and Dink O’Neal’s amusing British fop. Brent Shindele and Erin Appling make appealing romantic leads. Conductor M. Roger Lockie’s lively orchestra delivers the score’s full complement of musical flourishes. Rikki Lugo’s choreography, however, could use some tightening, especially in the title number.

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* “Anything Goes,” San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, 320 S. Mission Drive. Today through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Ends Sunday. $22-$52. (626) 308-2868. At Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, Feb. 23, 8 p.m.; Feb. 24, 2 and 8 p.m.; Feb. 25, 2 and 7 p.m. $22-$42. (800) 233-3123. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.