REVIEW: ‘Anything Goes’ mostly easy to love

I was worried Wednesday during the opening moments of the touring production of 'Anything Goes” that steamed into the Paramount Theatre.

The first number of the classic musical is 'I get a Kick Out of You,” and it's sung by Reno Sweeney as she expresses her unrequited affection for Billy Crocker. Emma Stratton sang the song well, but without the spark that would have made me believe her character really pined for Crocker. Given that Stratton's character delivers a whole chapter of the Great American Songbook throughout 'Anything Goes,” a flat performance could have sunk the whole endeavor.

But it turned out that Stratton was just getting warmed up, perhaps underplaying 'I Get a Kick Out of You” to give herself some space to increase the energy and the sparkle as the show moved along. By the time the title number came around to close the first act, she was the undisputed star of the show.

The feather-light musical comedy - set on a cruise ship and built around various romantic shenanigans - features songs by the great Cole Porter. And what songs they are, particularly in the first act. In addition to the aforementioned tunes, the show includes 'You're the Top,” 'Easy to Love,” 'Friendship,” 'It's De-lovely” and 'Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”

While Stratton's performance was the production's best, she had some quality support from others in the cast. Brian Krinsky played Billy Crocker, and his lovely and high singing voice served him well for the show's love ballads. Dennis Setteducati was hilarious as Moonface Martin, a mobster who wishes he could climb the 'most wanted” list, but nevertheless has a heart of gold. Rachelle Rose Clark played Hope Harcourt, Billy's true love, with sweetness, and her scenes with Krinsky were well crafted.

Others in the cast were less consistent, but some had bright moments. Most notably, Richard Lindenfelzer, who is wholly unconvincing as the Englishman Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, nevertheless turned in a winning performance of the song 'The Gypsy in Me.” He nailed the vocal and the essential physical humor as his character woos Sweeney on deck.

But the true highlights all featured Stratton. She and Setteducati were wonderful together on 'Friendship” - a song of loyalty that devolves into amusing rivalry - and she ably led the show's big production numbers. She sang 'Anything Goes” with gusto, and then led the energetic tap dancing that delighted the audience. She was equally good delivering the saucy 'sermon” that is 'Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” the second act's high point.

While there were some rough patches - not every comedic moment got a laugh, not every note was sung beautifully, not every dance step was perfectly executed - by and large, the cast of 'Anything Goes” gave the crowd plenty to enjoy. Many in the audience sailed out of the theater with both a song and a smile on their lips.