Overview
Synopsis
The S. S. American is sailing between New York and England with a comically colorful assemblage of passengers: Reno Sweeney, a popular nightclub singer and former evangelist, her pal Billy Crocker, a lovelorn Wall Street broker who has come aboard to try to win the favor of his beloved Hope Harcourt (who is engaged to another passenger, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), and a second-rate con man named Moonface Martin, aka “Public Enemy #13.” Song, dance, and farcical antics ensue as Reno and Moonface try to help Billy win the love of his life.
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Context
Anything Goes premiered in 1934 on Broadway at the present day Neil Simon Theater (then known as the “Alvin Theatre”) in a production directed by Howard Lindsay and starring William Gaxton as Billy, Ethel Merman as Reno Sweeney, and Victor Moore as Moonface Martin. It was produced the following year on the West End, and soon after was adapted for film. Anything Goes has enjoyed two Broadway revivals, an off-Broadway productions, two West End revivals, and a
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The action opens in a smoky bar in Manhattan. Elisha J. Whitney, a Wall Street tycoon, is enjoying his seventh drink while waiting for his assistant, Billy Crocker. Billy enters, and Whitney chastises Billy for his tardiness; Billy explains that he was “taking care of business” and pulls out Whitney’s steamer ticket and some UK currency. He’s forgotten Eli’s passport, but reassures him that he’ll get it to him in the morning. Eli says he wants Billy down at Wall Street in the morning to sell
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
- "I Get a Kick Out of You" - Reno Sweeney
- “There's No Cure Like Travel” - Betty, Estelle, Captain, Sailors, Passengers
- "Bon Voyage" - Company
- *"You're the Top" - Reno and Billy Crocker
- “There'll Always Be a Lady Fair" -Sailors, Lady Passengers
- *"Friendship" - Reno and Moonface Martin
- "It's De-Lovely" - Billy and Hope Harcourt
- *"Anything Goes" - Reno and Company
- "Public Enemy Number One" - Company
- * "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" - Reno and Company
- "Be Like the Bluebird" - Moonface
- "All Through the Night" - Billy, Hope, Crew
- “Finale" - Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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