STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

In 1934 Cole Porter gifted the world with “Anything Goes,” a madcap musical comedy that weaves its way through mistaken identities, an FBI pursuit and even a stowaway attempting to break up the engagement of the woman he has fallen in love with.

Now, nearly a century later, 15 teenagers involved with The Spot Young Company are staging this tale of tap-dancing sailors and angels and the antics of passengers aboard an ocean liner. The Wood River Valley high school students are staging the musical tonight through Sunday at The Spot theatre in Ketchum’s light industrial district.

The students are dressed in sailor’s outfits and gowns reminiscent of the 1920s and ‘30s. And they’ve absolutely nailed the feel of the era right down to the movements that replicate the feel-good, happy-go-lucky musicals of that time.

Reno Sweeney, played by Gertie Pitts, and Moonface Martin, played by Ali LaChance, try out a scheme to get Lord Evelyn played by Nico de la Torre to break off his engagement.

“It’s so simple, and there’s a lot of beauty in that,” said Gertie Pitts, who plays Reno Sweeney, a role first played by Ethel Meman and later by Patti LuPon, Mitzi Gaynor and Leslie Uggams. “But we’ve really had to concentrate because there are so many things going on with the singing, dancing and acting. And we’ve had to learn new skills like tap dancing.”

“Anything Goes, written by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, revolves around a Wall Street broker named Billy who stows away on an ocean liner bound from New York to London in hopes of winning over a young heiress named Hope Harcourt that he just met at a party. Alas, she’s engaged to Lord Evelyn who, it turns out, wants to marry her because her company is worth millions.

But Billy has help in Reno Sweeney, an evangelist-turned nightclub singer and Moonface Martin, who provides him with a passport belonging to Snake Eyes—America’s Public Enemy No. 1.

Several of the songs, including “Anything Goes,” “You’re the Top” and “I Get a Kick Out of You” are familiar 91 years after they were written, thanks to their use in contemporary TV shows and movies, including  “Mission Impossible.”

Billy Crocker, played by Rick Vigueria, and Reno Sweeney, played by Gertie Pitts, engage in some fierce dancing.

“They’re good songs—so upbeat,” said Jay Shields, who plays a gangster named Spit.

Sweeney sings like a professional, including on “Anything Goes,” a somewhat complicated song that celebrates the changing social norms of the time with references to everything from the Puritans to Mae West. And the other young thespians display remarkable singing prowess, as well.

“Above all, the story’s fun—it’s a funny love story with interesting people in a boat,” said Rick Vigueria, who plays Billy Crocker.

“I like the fashion industry. So, to see the different costumes has been fun for me,” added Ocean Larkey.

Moonface Martin and Dippy the gangster, played by Paola Mora, provide Billy Crocker with the passport of a gangster, which will lead to Billy being both a fugitive and a hero among those on ship.

The play under the direction of Yanna Lantz, features Rick Vigueria as Billy Crocker; Gertie Pitts as Reno Sweeney; Lizzie Loving as Hope Harcourt; Mattigan Monschke as Hope’s overbearing mother Evangeline Harcourt, and Ali LaChance as Moonface Martin.

Fyn Norton plays Elisha Whitney; Nico de la Torre, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, and Bellazlin Paucar, the ship’s captain. Scout Kendall plays Erma Latour; Paola Mora, Dippy the gangster and Fernanda, and Jay Shields, Spit the gangster. Charlie Blake plays Purity; Sadie Driscoll, Chastity; Ocean Larkey, Virtue, and Marina Monschke, Charity.

Brett Moellenberg plays the Ship’s purser.

The Teen Tech Crew working with Technical Director Samuel Mollner includes Angus Ramsay, Reed Fowler, Lexi Pinizzotto, Niko Smith and Moises Bicas-Dolgen.

Brett Moellenberg portrays the Ship’s Purser.

In addition to the director Yanna Lantz, R.L. Rowsey serves as Music Director; Megan Mahoney, Choreographer; Sara Gorby, Costume Designer, Mattigan Monschke, vocal Coach, and Brett Moellenberg, Company Manager.

Spot Young Company is a tuition-free project for Wood River Valley high school students to get professional mentorship from theater professionals. It’s received funding in part from the Wood River Women’s Foundation, Spur Community Foundation, Arts Idaho and the National Endowment for the Arts.