Tweet

NT Confirms Anything Goes for Christmas, 18 Dec

Trevor Nunn will mount Cole Porter's Anything Goes this winter, his last musical as artistic director of the National Theatre (See The Goss, 16 & 5 Aug 02). The NT confirmed today that the revival will run for a continuous Christmas season in the Olivier Theatre, from 18 December 2002 to 8 February 2003 (previews from 11 December), before going into repertoire until the end of March.

As previously predicted, Nunn also plans to use the same company of actors in a production of Shakespeare's comedy Love's Labour's Lost, which would open in early 2003, although neither dates for this nor casting for either production has yet been confirmed.

Originally seen on Broadway in 1934 and in London a year later, Anything Goes tells the story of barmaid-turned evangelist Reno Sweeney who's so smitten with stowaway Billy Crocker that she follows him aboard a Europe-bound cruise ship in the hopes of luring him away from Hope Harcourt, herself determined to marry the rich Sir Evelyn Oakleigh.

The musical received its last major London revival in 1989 at the West End's Prince of Edward theatre, where Elaine Paige starred as Reno Sweeney. Those said to be under consideration for the role in Nunn's revival include American screen actresses Susan Sarandon and Jane Krakowski (from TV's Ally McBeal), though an NT spokesperson told Whatsonstage.com that such rumours should be taken "with a pinch of salt".

Anything Goes has an original book by Guy Bolton and PG Wodehouse, with music and lyrics by Porter, whose other musicals include High Society and Kiss Me Kate (which closes at the Victoria Palace this weekend). The score for Anything Goes includes "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", "Be Like the Bluebird" and the title song.

Nunn will be succeeded as the NT's artistic director by Nicholas Hytner, who takes over in April 2003, following a handover period.

- by Terri Paddock

Related Content