TALENTED… Rachael King and John Kane
Our reporter Ryan Smith went to see ELO’s ‘Anything Goes’ and here is what he thought…
TO BE honest, by the time Friday evening rolled around I was not really in the mood to go to a play at the Ardhowen theatre.
That was nothing against the play itself, or the actors – or indeed the theatre.
I was tired; and I thought genuinely about ‘calling in sick’.
By – maybe – 11pm that night, I’d got out of my bed, I’d sat down in Row F, and I was very glad that I had.
That show was Enniskillen Light Operatic’s enjoyable 17th production, ‘Anything Goes’.
A 1987 revival edition of Cole Porter’s musical, this local production featured an array of well-known names in the local acting contingency as well as a couple of new faces, taking on some of the more prominent roles.
In basic terms, set aboard the ocean liner SS American, a varied array of characters are in search of love – and with a mixture of comedic twists and turns.
In a sentence: There were no weak links. I found that those taking lead roles were well-chosen – and hugely talented.
Rebecca Cullen took on the role of Reno Sweeney. A familiar face to the Ardhowen stage – including last year as Annie in ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ – Rebecca is majorly talented, and a treat to watch. She would not look out of place on a stage on the London’s West End.
John Kane was the lovesick Billy Crocker – an acting graduate, he was as impressive. He shone most in the dialogue, pulling out accents galore, and demanded – and received – the crowd’s attention each time he appeared on-stage.
A lead-role debutante for ELO, was Rachael King – who played the apple of Billy Croker’s eye, Hope Harcourt.
Cutting a Marilyn Monroe-esque figure on-stage, her appropriate portrayal left no doubt as to why Billy had fallen so heavily for her.
Otherwise , Ryan Moohan as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh had the audience in stitches (and had the loudest cheer bowing at the end), while Neil P Reid was superb as Moonface Martin.
The ‘sailors’ and ‘angels’ as chorus members, and the ensemble itself, were well-rehearsed and never out of place.
Tickets are likely sold out for the remaining few nights; but it would be worth chancing your arm at the Ardhowen box office in case any spares become available.