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Nunn's Final National Musical Anything Goes Opens

Trevor Nunn's final musical as artistic director of the National Theatre - his much-anticipated revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes - opens tonight, 18 December 2002 (previews from 11 December), at the NT Olivier where it continues in a straight run until 8 February 2003. It will be followed by Nunn's final NT production, Love's Labour's Lost, opening on 21 February 2003 (previews from 15 February) and featuring many of the same company.

In Anything Goes, Sally Ann Triplett plays celebrity evangelist turned nightclub entertainer Reno Sweeney, with Denis Quilley as Eli Whitney, Mary Stockley as Hope Harcourt, Annette McLaughlin as Erma and John Barrowman as Billy Crocker, a role he previously played in the 1989 West End production of Anything Goes.

Also in the 34-strong cast are Christopher Bennett, Daniel Crossley, Jane Fowler, Jason Gardiner, Charlotte Gorton, Richard Henders, Akiya Henry, Duncan MacVicar, Samantha Modeste, Tam Mutu, Alexis Owen Hobbs, Corey Skaggs, Nicola Sloane and Rachel Stanley.

Originally seen on Broadway in 1934 and in London a year later, Anything Goes follows Reno as she embarks on the SS American luxury liner in romantic pursuit of stowaway Billy, who is himself hopelessly smitten with debutante Hope, herself determined to marry the rich Sir Evelyn Oakleigh. Also onboard are Wall Street millionaire Eli Whitney and Public Enemy Number Thirteen, Moonface Martin.

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. The score includes "I Get a Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", "Be Like the Bluebird" and the title song.

The National revival has a new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman, choreography by Stephen Mear, design by John Gunter, costumes by Anthony Powell, lighting by David Hersey and musical arrangements by Michael Gibson.

- by Terri Paddock

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