Anything Goes - the cast in rehearsal

"In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, Anything Goes!"

Thirty voices, male and female, belt out the classic Cole Porter tune around an electric piano. Two young dancers pull rehearsal skirts over their Iycra leggings. Black rubber matting is rolled out across the blue carpet and dozens of chairs are expertly arranged into the approximation of a ship's deck.

We're at the Wesley Hall in Chineham. For the past two years this has been the rehearsal home to Basinqstoke Amateur Theatrical Society, where the cast is rehearsing Anything Goes, the much-loved musical set on board a luxury ocean liner in the 1930s. "Right, let's run it from the top of Act Two." Seated at his desk in complete control of proceedings is the show's director, Ray Jeffery. He's meticulous in his preparation and knows exactly what he wants from each member of the cast.

Anything Goes rehearsal photo - October 2011

Vocal harmonies ring out at the climax of the Act Two opener "Public Enemy Number One" and everyone strikes their set pose. "You're absolutely static for this bit," hotlers Ray sternly - then breaks into a grin" ... until the back flips!" Ray's never ending stream of quips keeps the atmosphere fun and friendly. He's already spent a week in July with the principal cast members, setting their moves and dialogue for every scene in the show. Now it's mid-September, and he's adding in the rest of the cast, who play sailors, preachers, gangsters, reporters and FBI agents.

This can present some challenges! As lead actors Julie Simmons and Bryn Hughes perform their number "You're The Top" they now encounter bodies on stage where there were none before. Ray moves one sailor further upstage. Some dance moves are adapted. It's a real insight into the nuts and bolts of staging a big musical.

It started as a room full of chaos, but now the sole focus is on Bryn and Julie as they sing and dance with real joy and pizzazz. At the end the cast erupts into applause. There's a fantastic energy in this rehearsal room - and it's giving this musical a real feelgood factor.

Guys and Dolls review, Nov 2011 - Newbury Weekly News

As we took our seats the first impression of the Guys and Dolls set with its towering skyscrapers, stairway and shop fronts it really set the mood.

Director and choreographer Ray Jeffrey used the overture to create a bustling street scene, with the whole cast in black and white – a classy touch, and soon we were into the action and the costumes turned to colour. Guys and Dolls is drawn from two short stories by Damon Runyon, and we met loveable thugs and their long-suffering dolls and the Salvation Army preaching against the evils of drink.

Nathan Detroit ran the ‘oldest established permanent floating crap game’ in New York and he was desperately seeking a place to play while simultaneously striving to keep his fiancé of 14 years from becoming his wife!

Martin Webb was very comfortable and excellent in his role as Nathan Detroit and Stephen Westwood, as career gambler Sky Masterton, was also impressive, with great vocals and presence. Missionary Sergeant, Sarah Brown was in the experienced and talented hands of Theresa Lunn who gave an immaculate performance. Heading up the Hot Box Girls was Liz Illett as Adelaide and she had a ball in her comedy role.

The various gamblers all gave great performances, although I didn’t care for Harry the Horse’s constant ‘neighing’ dialogue (a good idea) but it palled in the end for me. Highlights were Luck Be a Lady and Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat, led by David Scanlan as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

Sound Balance was excellent and the chorus, dancers and the Salvation Army group did a terrific job. The orchestra, under the baton of Musical Director Neil Streeter, excellently and sympathetically accompanied the musical numbers.

This was a very good production, with strong principals, good chorus work, and it all looked fabulous with the impressive set and lovely costumes. However, despite all these excellent ingredients, a little something was missing for me. Perhaps it was a lacking in atmosphere due to the (I felt) rather old fashioned lighting plot, or lacking in pace at times. None the less, congratulations on bringing this favourite to the stage in a highly entertaining production that sent the audience home very happy.

Trevor Dobson