East cast members impress audience with Anything Goes

March 13, 2015

Anything Goes, Cherry Hill East’s musical that played Feb. 27 and 28, and March 6 and 7, had the audience laughing the whole way through. The play, which was impressively produced, is about a comedic love story that takes place on the S.S American.

Anything Goes starts off with Reno, a well-known singer on board the ship from New York to England with her friend Billy, who came aboard the ship with her to be near his lover, Hope. Hope is forced to be engaged to Evelyn, a wealthy British man, because she needs money. However, Hope is in love with Billy.  Also on board the ship is Moonface Martin, Public Enemy number thirteen, disguised as a Priest and his friend Emma who eventually plays a role in helping Billy convince Hope to marry him.

Justin Accardi (’17), who played Billy, was placed in the center of a love triangle.

Accardi said he found the whole experience fun as he loved learning about all the characters and finding all the humor in the lines of the play. He prepared with the other cast members and did not have to take dance lessons because the dance captains and choreographer, Sandy, were just so helpful.

To practice for Anything Goes, Accardi took vocal lessons since even before the show started, and practiced every day for about an hour, even on days that he did not have rehearsal. The rehearsal process was about five weeks long and the whole process of producing the show and making the sets, including auditions took seven weeks. However, Accardi said that the whole process was made a lot easier since the whole cast was really focused and devoted to the show.

Patricia Irwin (’15) was also one of the lead cast members in the show.

Irwin said “ I love the show, it’s a classic. Cole Porter’s lyrics are brilliant. I saw Sutton Foster perform the role of Reno in Anything Goes on Broadway during my freshman year, and I have wanted to perform in this show since then.”

Irwin has not only performed as the lead in Anything Goes, but she has also performed Peter in Peter Pan, the leading player in Pippin, Amneris in Aida and Yum-Yum in The Mikado. Irwin could not believe that it is her last year at East and said, “This show has been an absolute blast!”

East cast members enthusiastically created a very fun atmosphere, delivering a brilliantly produced show to their audience members. East’s pit orchestra also played along to many of the songs during the show, adding to the energy that reverberated off the stage and through the crowd from opening day to closing night. Anything Goes is a unique play that proves to be comical and serious, raising realistic ideas of life goals and happiness.

To check out more photos, please visit Eastside’s Facebook Page.

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