Anything Goes

The national touring company of the Tony-winning Anything Goesis tapdancing up a storm at the Ahmanson Theater. Led by the effervescent Rachel York, the musical's cast does a lot of fast and tricky tapping, with military-like timing and precision.

The choreography, by Kathleen Marshall (who also directed), is matched by the spirited singing of such Cole Porter classics as "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Blow, Gabriel, Blow," "Anything Goes" and "It's De-Lovely." York again leads the way -- for a slip of a woman she has some mighty big pipes -- but her co-stars (Fred Applegate as Moonface Martin; Erich Bergen as stockbroker Billy Crocker; Alex Finke as debutante Hope Harcourt; Edward Staudenmayer as Lord Oakleigh; Chuck Wagner as S.S. American's captain) more than hold their own with her.

First produced in 1934 as Depression-era escapism, then revived (and revised) in 1987, the current version is blissfully silly from beginning to end, but its showmanship is strong and slick. As entertainment vehicles go, this one whizzes by like a bullet train.

The comedy isn't as sophisticated and accomplished as Porter's songs; plot leans heavily on character disguise and misunderstandings -- such as a gangster posing as a minister; and the hero posing, in turn, as a gangster. Most of the fun comes from Reno Sweeney (York), a hard-boiled siren who manipulates most of the males aboard the S.S. American as it chugs across the Atlantic Ocean, hugely enjoying herself all the while.

Led by a performer with star power -- and a million-dollar smile -- this smart, handsome and snappy production of Anything Goes is, to paraphrase one of the show's songs, the absolute tops.