Just as New York has its famed Performing Arts High School, so has Sarasota. Both have sent graduates on to careers in each's locale. This year, Sarasota's VPA Program at Booker High School has some "4s" who are likely candidates for success in college and/or arts venues. Foremost among them is smooth tenor Charlie Barnett, playing Billy Crocker, transatlantic ship stowaway and handsome romantic lead in Anything Goes.
As escaping gangster Moonface Martin, Anthony Lombard lives up comically to his character's name, winning major guffaws with his sung exhortation to "Be Like the Bluebird" and appropriate gestures.
Moon's cohort Bonnie keeps insisting "Let's Step Out," a song well suited to Brittany O'Dell's Adelaide-type vocals. Hannah Blakeman rouses everyone on board as cabaret owner and ship celebrity Reno Sweeny. She leads most of the best-known Cole Porter songs, being best suited to "You're the Top" and "Let's Misbehave." Foremost presence and best feminine voice belong to sweet Amber Ikeman as Hope Harcourt, whom Billy seeks to dislodge from rich fiance Evelyn Oakleigh, a pompous, prudish English nobleman (overdone but with proper enunciation by James DiPaola).
Hope's mother, portrayed by imposing Jacqueline Rubin as a money-hungry social climber, keeps trying to thwart Billy's quest for Hope. From the moment that Ikeman and Barnett smoothly meld singing and dancing "It's De-Lovely," though, they're clearly designed to make a lasting pair. Their "All Through the Night" rendered on two levels of the ship makes memorable moments. So does a large chorus that scores backing the title song and finale.
In these severe budget days, how rare (and appreciated) is a huge cast assembled in a grand array of clothing on a large set!
Unusually for a school performance, all the leads look their characters' ages. Costumes are stunning, often glittering with sequins and ribbons in the case of Reno and on-board performers, but Hope and her mother wear just as beautiful conservative clothes. In some scenes, all costumes are color coordinated (black and white, for example, or varying blue shades). The basic ship setting in red, white and blue is augmented by rolled-out interior scenes appropriate for ship interiors. All the transitions are as smooth as the music, although the sound system would benefit from less miking and a more even distribution from mid-stage.
Another disturbance: Are the wigs on the show girls and Reno supposed to be so phony? A small quibble amid praise equivalent for that of a professional production. Professionalism is what one expects -- and gets -- from direction by Scott Keys and Johnnie Mnich.
With recent news of decreased enrollment in Sarasota's VPA Program at Booker, I feel it is time to recognize it as an important part of the local theater scene.
