***** Every actor dreams that one day, he or she will get the role that was “meant” for them to play. We all know that when we hear “Funny Girl”, we think Streisand, when we hear “Hello Dolly”, we think Carl Channing and I for one think “Fiddler on The Roof, and it is Zero Mostel. In fact, there are many roles that we have seen done by one performer that outshined any other. Tonight, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, we were witness to Meghan Murphy ( also known as “Big Red”) bring Reno Sweeney, Cole Porters heroine in “Anything Goes” to life and she was amazing! In fact, it is quite difficult to express just how amazing she was. We have seen her do countless roles in countless productions, but in this role, a singer/dancer who entertains on a cruise ship ( something she does in real life), it was if Cole Porter back in the 1930’s ( yes, 90 years ago) had a vision- one day, there would be a singer/dancer/actress that would make this role her own…and that my friends is Meghan Murphy!

Most of you are probably not familiar with the great Cole Porter, but his music is. Songs like “I Get A Kick Out Of You”, “Your The Top”, “Easy To Love”, “Friendship”, “It’s De-Lovely”. “Blow Gabriel Blow”, “Anything Goes” and more, more, more! Under the sharp direction of Michael Weber, who truly understands Porter and his work with solid choreography by Tammy Mader ( tap dance lovers will feel as if they have died and gone to heaven) and solid musical direction by Nick Sula, this is a solid production with casting that is about as perfect as one can get!

There are many small stories on this cruise ship. Lovers, gangsters, Wall Street  brokers, and of course, our singer, Reno. The set (Jeffrey D. Kmiec) is a cruise ship with most of the action on the deck, but we do get into some cabins as well. It is amazing what can be created for a play and how real it appears. One of my favorite things about the Ruth Page Center stage and theater is its intimacy and that no matter where you sit, you feel as if you are that “fly on the wall”.

The actors in this show all bring their characters to life and with just the right touch for a musical of the era in which this takes place. Billy (played to perfection by Luke Nowakowski) stows away on the ship in order to keep the girl he loves, Hope (deftly handled by Emma Ocea) from marrying  Lord Evelyn Oakleigh ( played to sheer perfection by Jackson Evans, who truly shows his comic touch).

Moonface Martin, a gangster and old friend of Reno’s is played for the comic touch by Steve McDonach and the ensemble members, who play a multitude of roles are quite talented. They sing, they dance ( they truly shine in Mader’s numbers) and they make all their characters work. Hats off to the costumers as well (rachel Boylan and crew) for the dazzling outfits and the quick changes.

The ensemble members are:Logan Becker, Tommy Bullington, Rachael Dec, Tafadzwa Diener, Nick Dorado, Josiah Haugen, Ciara Hickey, J. Christian Hill, Emily Ling Mei, Kelsey McDonald,  Hannah Remian, Nataki Rennie, Jenna Schoppe, Gabriel Solis, Mack Spotts, Jerod Turner, Genvieve VenJohnson and Anthony Whitaker.  The five musicians on the upper deck were powerful under the direction of Linda Madonia and a special mention to the trumet playing of Greg Strauss in the ” Blow Gabriel, Blow ” number in Act Two- WOW!

(90 years ago, this play opened on Broadway and here we are watching a fresh production that is worth going out to see under any and all circumstances. Yes, it is winter in Chicago. Snow, cold , nor anything at all should keep you away from this wonderful production. Porchlight Music Theatre is starting its 29th season with a show that will  make all who see it glad they did. Many of you will now know why Cole Porter was ( and  is) so loved by the theater world. Now is your chance to see the true magic of Cole Porter. DO NOT MISS IT!

“Anything Goes” will continue thru – March 10th  with performances as follows: