ANYTHING GOES - still the best in the West End

I'm aware that this should be a West End Board thread, but I just want to recommend ANYTHING GOES again to anyone who comes visit before it closes Aug 28.

I saw it for the third time last night and it was the best yet. Almost all of the original principals have been doing it for almost two years now, but they're still incredibly fresh and absolutely perfect. For once, a musical cast can sing, dance AND - shock, horror - act! I know, it's a rare thing - at least in the UK. But this truly is the only West End musical production that the Brits can be proud of.
And it was so nice to see that one of London's biggest theatres was almost packed on a Monday night. Why there's still an audience for utter toss like "Fame" and "Saturday Night Fever" I will never understand. But I guess that's an entirely different thread...

We are excited to see this production here in LA at the Ahmanson next season. As it is closing in London, do you know if any of that cast will get to tour here in the US?

G - I would seriously doubt it as well, but you never know. They're also bringing over the Peter Hall production of AS YOU LIKE IT starring his daughter (I believe she's his daughter, anyway) - and she does get to play the role over here. At least I hope the production team for ANYTHING GOES gets their input, as it IS supposed to be a tour of that particular production.

London's Olivier Award
WINNER! BEST MUSICAL

"IT'S THE TOPS!"
London, MAIL on Sunday

ANYTHING GOES

Music & lyrics by Cole Porter
Original book by PG Wodehouse & Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
New book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman
Directed by Trevor Nunn


From the director of Les Miserables and Cats... a major London hit.

"TERRIFIC FUN...
in the words of a Cole Porter song, it's
DELIGHTFUL, DELICIOUS, DELOVELY
and delirious, deloopy and a bit delunatic too."
London The Times

Trevor Nunn’s Olivier Award winning new production of Cole Porter’s 1934 masterwork Anything Goes, is a major hit for British audiences and will depart London full steam ahead for Los Angeles in 2005!

An all time great of American musical theatre, the tune-filled, dance-peppered score includes ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’, ‘You’re the Top’, ‘It’s De-Lovely’, ‘Blow, Gabriel, Blow’ and the galvanic title number, ‘Anything Goes’.


"GLORIOUS MUSICAL.
Set on a transatlantic liner, with high-kicking chorus girls, reprobate clergymen, wisecracking criminals, and women who could have slunk straight off the pages of Vogue in the '30s."
London Evening Standard



"A MASTERPIECE:
moving, funny, sexy and lyrical -- a piece of intelligent magic."
The Times, London

William Shakespeare's
AS YOU LIKE IT

Directed by Sir Peter Hall

Shakespeare's Warmest Comedy.

"Rosalind is portrayed by Rebecca Hall, a young British actress of glistening freshness and uncanny intuition ... And anyone whose heart doesn't embrace this gorgeous, galumphing girl probably doesn't have one."
Ben Brantley, The New York Times


As You Like It is filled with laughter, love and song. Sir Peter Hall’s new production, which premiered in August, 2003 at England’s famed Theater Royal Bath, opened to dazzling reviews from London and New York critics.

As You Like It is the story of Rosalind and her cousin Celia who have run away to the idyllic Forest of Arden, populated by a colorful mixture of hilarious rustics and witty courtiers. Dressed as a boy in order to divert suspicion, Rosalind encounters the infatuated Orlando. When she offers to cure him of his love sickness by letting him woo her as if she is his sweetheart, the stage is set for blind love to overcome one misguided fool after another.

Updated On: 7/20/04 at 11:59 AM

Trust me, G, there's no need to get the word out here in LA - the Ahmanson season is usually pretty much a sell-out. And these are longish runs (for tours, anyway) - I have no idea where else they may be playing, though.