A favourite since the 1930s, when Bing Crosby and his toe-tapping companions catapulted Anything Goes to the top of the musical theatre tree, the show’s glitz and glam proved to be a fine antidote to the credit crunch blues when Harrow Light Opera Company hit the Watersmeet stage last week.

Director Mike Monk is an old hand and knew exactly which buttons to press in order to bring the show to life. With some expert choreography and sensational costumes, the story of stowaways, gangsters and stock market shares whisked along in entertaining fashion.

Leading lady Reno Sweeney is a character who has been around the block a few times and requires a sassy and worldly dame to do her justice. Wise cracking Emma Bowles belted out the vocals with real class. But while she strutted with confidence, her tender years meant she lacked the ballsiness and experience, as well as the vocal depth, to pull off the role truly convincingly.

Patrick Rufey was completely at home as lovesick Billy Crocker. Complete with a travelling fan club of screaming groupies, his natural presence and charm was engaging while his hoofing abilities impressed. As confused bride-to-be Rachel Dashwood, Hope Harcourt trilled sweetly as she tried to reconcile her love for penniless Crocker with her impending marriage to eccentric Brit, Lord Oakley who was amusingly played by David Rees.

As Public Enemy #13, Jonathan Carter’s gun-toting cleric growled through his numbers and delivered his one-liners with aplomb.

Fleur Wright