Welcome to this willfully silly tale of love, deception, and celebrity chasing on the high seas, featuring a deluxe candy box of songs by Cole Porter. Anything Goes opened in 1934, as an entertaining diversion from a time when the US was still reeling from The Great Depression and World War I. In the darkened theater, there were no bills to be paid, mouths to feed, and wars to fight. Musicals played strongly on absurdity, song and dance, and knee-slapping jokes, straight from Vaudeville. Storylines existed only to showcase popular songs, not to burden audiences with deep thought. With its period references, the humor in Anything Goes was aimed specifically at an audience who had their fingers on the pulse of 1930’s culture and politics. While today, the show might seem "dated," at the time, audiences reveled in the intended timely references.
Now, I would be remiss if I did not state the obvious: what audiences in the 1930’s found funny might not align with your sense of humor as a showgoer in 2023. We ask that you observe this production as a piece of history brought to life. Theater is a time capsule of our history, allowing us to see how much we’ve grown and how far we have come (or haven’t).
Nearly 90 years later, this timeless musical is more relevant than ever. Each of us can hide behind a facade, seeming to be whatever or whomever we want. Anything Goes is about our obsession with celebrity, disguises, and how con artists can fool even the smartest among us. The brilliance of this show is that it wipes away awkward reality—exactly what we need right now.
In addition to Cole Porter’s iconic score, Anything Goes originally included a bomb threat, a shipwreck, and a desert island, but when the SS Morro Castle caught fire causing the death of 138 passengers and crew, the script was quickly changed before its 1934 Broadway debut. Subsequent revivals in 1962, 1987, and in 2011 also saw major script and score changes. We are performing the 2022 revision, which maintains the magical charm of the original, but adapts to our modern cultural sensitivities.
I must also express my sincere gratitude to the ‘de-lovely’ production team. They’ve welcomed me as their leader with open arms; and their creativity, professionalism, (and humor) are top-notch. This production wouldn’t be possible without the immense support from Mr. Marrone, Mr. Gatley, the MRHS Board of Education and MRHS Administration, who prioritize the arts in our community, and recognize the value of programs like this. A special shout out to MPAPO who has been by our side every step of the way!
Lastly, I hope you are able to escape the world’s troubles to laugh along with this talented, creative, and flexible group of students. They have worked tirelessly over the past few months to give you a memorable night of laughter, singing, and dancing!
I hope you enjoy Anything Goes as much as we’ve enjoyed preparing it for you!
Bon Voyage!
Philip Pallitto, director
MRHS Class of ‘04
