Musical (1934)


Musique: Cole Porter
Paroles: Cole Porter
Livret: Guy Bolton • P.G. Wodehouse
Production à la création:

Version 4

Anything goes (1950-10-Television)

Type de série: Télévision
Théâtre: *** TV (*** - ***)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : lundi 02 octobre 1950
Première : lundi 02 octobre 1950
Dernière : lundi 02 octobre 1950
Mise en scène : Richard Berger
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Diffusé sur NBC-TV le 2 octobre 1950, dans " Musical Comedy Time". Avec Martha Raye (Reno Sweeney), John Conte (Billy Crocker), Fred Wayne (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), Billy Lynn (Moonface Martin/The Rev. Dr. Moon), Helen Raymond (Mrs. Harcourt), Gretchen Hauser (Babe)
This production is considered lost. There are no known copies of it available.

Billy Crocker est monté clandestinement à bord du navire de croisière « S.S. American » afin de tenter de reconquérir celle qu’il aime, Hope Harcourt, mais qui doit se marier avec un autre, le riche Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Billy est soutenu par Reno Sweeney, une chanteuse qui tient toujours tendrement à lui, et par un autre passager clandestin, Moonface Martin, un gangster de second rang qui essaie d’échapper au FBI. Après des difficultés et des rebondissements, l’amour finira par triompher. La croisière s’achèvera par plusieurs mariages, dont certains inattendus.

Synopsis complet

Version 1934)

Version 1962
Acte I: Overture / You're the Top / Bon Voyage / It's De-Lovely / Heaven Hop / Friendship / I Get a Kick Out of You / Anything Goes
Acte II: Public Enemy Number One / Let's Step Out / Let's Misbehave / Blow, Gabriel, Blow / All Through the Night / Be Like the Bluebird / Take Me Back to Manhattan

Version 1987
Acte I: I Get a Kick Out of You / There's No Cure Like Travel / Bon Voyage / You're the Top / Easy to Love / I Want to Row on the Crew / There'll Always Be a Lady Fair / Friendship / It's De-Lovely / Anything Goes
Acte II: Public Enemy Number One / Blow, Gabriel, Blow / Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye / Be Like the Bluebird / All Through the Night / The Gypsy in Me /Buddie Beware / I Get a Kick Out of You

"Anything goes" est basé sur l'idée d'un producteur, Vinton Freedley, qui habitait sur un bateau après avoir quitté les Etats-Unis pour fuir ses dettes. Il a sélectionné l'équipe de création, et la star, Ethel Merman. Alors que le spectacle était en préparation, un bateau du passager, le SS Morro Castle, a brûlé et plus de 125 passagers ont péri. L'intrigue originale, qui parlait d'un fou faisant sauter un paquebot a été jugée, indélicate et le livret de Bolton & Wodehouse a été presque totalement recréé par Lindsay et Crouse qui sont devenus des partenaires d'écriture pour le reste de leurs vies.
Si on se fie à la légende, le nouveau titre du spectacle, est né de la hâte avec laquelle le spectacle a été réécrit: lors d'une rencontre de production qui s'était ptolongé tard dans la nuit, un membre exaspéré et exténué de l'équipe de production s'est écrié "Et comment allons nous, bordel, juste finir ce premier acte?!" "À ce moment," repondit un des producteurs, en étant plus utile qu'il ne le croyait : "n'importe quoi est bon!!"
En 1988, une nouvelle version a été montée à Broadway. Le livret a été à nouveau modifié et d’autres chansons de Cole Porter ont été intégrées à cette comédie musicale (« It’s De-Lovely », « Friendship »…). Cette version interprétée notamment par Patti LuPone a été récompensée par des Tony Awards (meilleur « revival » et meilleure chorégraphie). Dès 1989, elle a été transférée à Londres (avec la participation d’Elaine Paige).


Producer Vinton Freedley came up with the idea for the show as he was living on a boat at the time. He left the US to avoid his debts and used a boat as his residence. Freedley picked Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse to write the book, and Ethel Merman to star in the production. The original plot was a comedy about a mad bomber running loose on an ocean liner. Freedley was not happy with the script and found it difficult to make changes when Bolton and Wodehouse sailed for Europe. In an odd turn of events, as rehearsals began, the passenger ship, the SS Morro Castle, sailing from Havana to New York on September 8, 1934, caught fire and burned. The disaster killed a total of 137 passengers and crew members before beaching herself near Asbury Park, New Jersey. This was the excuse that Freedley needed to completely revamp the show. He maintained that the tragedy made the plot of the show seem insensitve and that this would not work well with public opinion. As a result, the book was almost entirely recreated by the show's director, Howard Lindsay and press agent, Russell Crouse (who became lifelong writing partners as a result). They revised the script, finishing the last scene on the train to Boston, where the show was to open before hitting Broadway. The show opened on November 21, 1934, about two and a half months after the SS Morro Castle disaster.
There is a legend behind the name of the show and the title song. It is said that at a late night production meeting where the show was being reworked, one of the overly-tired production team members said in frustration "And just how in the hell are we going to end the first act?!" "At this point," responded one of the producers, "anything goes!!"
The show became a big hit and the confusion really begins. Two years later, the 1936 film version of Anything Goes hit the theatres and held little resemblance to the stage production. The book and score were dramaticaly changed with only two of the original songs included. Additional songs were included by Hoagy Carmichael and other composers.
18 years later in 1954, the television version changed the plot again and changed the songs again to include more of the original score than the movie version along with songs from other Cole Porter shows.
The second movie version was filmed in 1956 and the book was drastically changed once more with additional songs by Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen. The second film named Anything Goes forced the first film version (1936) to be renamed Tops Is The Limit.
An Off-Broadway revival of Anything Goes opened on May 15, 1962 at the Orpheum Theatre. It starred Hal Linden as Billy Crocker and Eileen Rodgers as Reno Sweeney. The stage script was revised and incorporated several of the changes from the movie versions. The minor character named Erma was expanded and her name changed to Bonnie. This revival also added several songs from other Porter shows that came after the original production of Anything Goes. From the 1930 musical, The New Yorkers, came the song "Take Me Back to Manhattan," from the 1934 musical, Red Hot and Blue, came the song "It's De-Lovely," from the 1939 musical, DuBarry Was a Lady, came the song "Friendship," and from the 1929 musical, Paris, came the song "Let's Misbehave".
In October 19, 1987, a major revival of Anything Goes opened on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, with Patti Lupone in the role of Reno Sweeney and ran for 784 perfomances. The book was revised by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. This production opened in London at The Prince Edward Theatre the following year.


Billy Crocker — Protagonist. Assistant to Elisha, love-struck would-be suitor to Hope.
Reno Sweeney — An evangelist turned nightclub singer and an old friend of Billy's.
Hope Harcourt — An American debutante and the object of Billy's affection.
Moonface Martin — a second-rate gangster, "Public Enemy Number 13", soon to not be thought as a public enemy at all.
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh — Hope's wealthy and handsome English fiancé.
Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt — Hope's haughty and overbearing mother.
Bonnie / Erma (1987 revival) — Sidekick to Moonface.
Elisha J. Whitney — Ivy league Wall Street banker, Billy's boss.
Reno's Angels (Purity, Charity, Chastity and Virtue). (1934 original and 1962 revival / 2002 concert) - Reno's back up singers.
Ritz Quartette (1934 original) / Lady Fair Quartet (1987 revival)
Ching and Ling ("Luke" and "John" in the 1987 revival and 2002 concert) — Two Chinese 'Converts' and reformed gamblers who accompany Bishop Henry T. Dobson
Captain, Steward, Purser on the ship
The Right Reverend, Bishop Henry T. Dobson
Ships crew, Passengers, Reporters, Photographers and F.B.I. Agents
Shelly — Extra

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Anything goes


Version 1

Anything goes (1934-11-Alvin Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Neil Simon Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 12 mois
Nombre : 420 représentations
Première Preview : lundi 05 novembre 1934
Première : mercredi 21 novembre 1934
Dernière : samedi 16 novembre 1935
Mise en scène : Howard Lindsay
Chorégraphie : Robert Alton
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: L'un des plus grands et des plus longs succès de l'époque … Cette version, qui est la création, avait pour interprète principale Ethel Merman (Reno Sweeney) et aussi William Gaxton (Billy Crocker), Victor Moore (Reverend Dr. Moon), Bettina Hall (Hope Harcourt), Paul Everton (Elisha J. Whitney), Vera Dunn (Bonnie Letour), Vivian Vance (Babe), Leslie Barrie (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh). Le spectacle sera transféré le 30 septembre 1935 au 46th Street Theatre.
"Buddie, Beware" was replaced by a reprise of "I Get a Kick Out of You" early in the run as Ethel Merman felt that if audience members came in late, they'd miss the latter song.

Version 2

Anything goes (1935-06-Palace Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original London
Théâtre: Palace Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre : 261 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : vendredi 14 juin 1935
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Howard Lindsay
Chorégraphie : Robert Alton
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Avec Jack Whiting (Billy Crocker), Jeanne Aubert (Reno Sweeney), Sydney Howard (Reverend Dr. Moon), Adele Dixon (Hope Harcourt), Betty Kean (Bonnie Letour)

Version 3

Anything goes (1936-01-Film)

Type de série:
Théâtre: *** Film (*** - ***)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : vendredi 24 janvier 1936
Première : vendredi 24 janvier 1936
Dernière : vendredi 24 janvier 1936
Mise en scène : Lewis Milestone
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Avec Ethel Merman. Très différent de la version originale à la scène…

Version 4

Anything goes (1950-10-Television)

Type de série: Télévision
Théâtre: *** TV (*** - ***)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : lundi 02 octobre 1950
Première : lundi 02 octobre 1950
Dernière : lundi 02 octobre 1950
Mise en scène : Richard Berger
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Diffusé sur NBC-TV le 2 octobre 1950, dans " Musical Comedy Time". Avec Martha Raye (Reno Sweeney), John Conte (Billy Crocker), Fred Wayne (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), Billy Lynn (Moonface Martin/The Rev. Dr. Moon), Helen Raymond (Mrs. Harcourt), Gretchen Hauser (Babe)
This production is considered lost. There are no known copies of it available.

Version 5

Anything goes (1954-02-Television)

Type de série: Télévision
Théâtre: *** TV (*** - ***)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : dimanche 28 février 1954
Première : dimanche 28 février 1954
Dernière : dimanche 28 février 1954
Mise en scène : Peter Barnum
Chorégraphie : Fred Kelly
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Diffusé sur NBC-TV le 28 février 1954, dans "The Colgate Comedy Hour". Avec Ethel Merman (Reno Sweeney), Frank Sinatra (Harry Dane), Bert Lahr (Moonface), Sheree North (Bonnie), Norman Abbot (Radio Announcer), Nestor Paiva (Dr. Henry T. Dobson), Arthur Gould Porter (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), Barbara Morrison (Mrs. Wentworth), Lou Krugman (Purser), and Al Goodman's Orchestra

Version 6

Anything goes (1956-04-Film)

Type de série:
Théâtre: *** Film (*** - ***)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : dimanche 01 avril 1956
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Avec: Bing Crosby (Bill Benson), Donald O'Connor (Ted Adams), Mitzi Gaynor (Patsy Blair), Phil Harris (Steve Blair), Zizi "Renée" Jeanmaire (Gaby Duval), Kurt Kasznar (Victor Lawrence), Richard Entman (Ed Brent) and Walter Sande (Alex Todd)

Version 7

Anything goes (1962-05-Orpheum Theatre-Off Broadway)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Orpheum theatre (Broadway (Off) - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre : 239 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : mardi 15 mai 1962
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Lawrence Kasha
Chorégraphie : Ron Field
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Avec Eileen Rodgers (Reno Sweeney), Hal Linden (Billy Crocker), Mickey Deems (Moonface Martin), Barbara Lang (Hope Harcourt), Margery Gray (Bonnie), Kenneth Mars (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Mildred Chandler (Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt), Warren Wade (Elisha Whitney), Neal Patrick (Bishop Dobson)

Version 8

Anything goes (1969-11-Saville Theatre-Londres)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Saville Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre : 15 représentations
Première Preview : mardi 18 novembre 1969
Première : mardi 18 novembre 1969
Dernière : mardi 18 novembre 1969
Mise en scène : Michael Clare
Chorégraphie : Michael Clare
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: Avec Marian Montgomery (Reno Sweeney), James Kenney (Billy Crocker), Michael Segal (Moonface Martin), Michael Malnick (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), Valerie Verdon (Hope Harcourt), Janet Mahoney (Bonnie), Linda Gray (Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt), Stanley Beard (Bishop, Captain), Bernard Sharpe (Reporter, Horatio), Peter Honri (Elisha J. Whitney), Michael Rowlett (Purser), Olwen Hughes (Mary Anne), Anne Sparrow (Melanie), Alan Stone (Steward), David Wheldon Williams (Ching), Ross Huntly (Ling), with Chris Melville, Georgina Pearce, Douglas Nottage, Vivian Stokes, April Ashton, Jan Cave, Jacquie Toye, Peter Loury, David Thornton, Michael Bevan, and Allard Tobin.

Version 9

Anything goes (1987-10-Vivian Beaumont Theatre-LCPA-New York)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (New-York - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 an 10 mois 2 semaines
Nombre : 44 previews - 784 représentations
Première Preview : vendredi 11 septembre 1987
Première : lundi 19 octobre 1987
Dernière : dimanche 03 septembre 1989
Mise en scène : Jerry Zaks
Chorégraphie : Michael Smuin
Producteur :
Avec : Avec Patti LuPone (Reno Sweeney), Howard McGillin (Billy Crocker), Bill McCutcheon (Moonface Martin), Rex Everhart (Elisha Whitney), Anne Francine (Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt), Linda Hart (Erma), Anthony Heald (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Kathleen Mahony-Bennett (Hope Harcourt), David Pursley (Captain), Gerry Vichi (Purser), Pat Gorman (Countess), Richard Korthaze (Minister), Stanford Egi (Luke), Toshi Toda (John), Robert Kellett (Reporter #1), Larry Cahn (Reporter #2), Dale Hensley (G-Man #1), Leslie Feagan (G-Man #2), Steve Stiner (Fred), Eric Y. L. Chan (Louie), Gerry McIntyre (Photographer), Jane Seaman (Woman in Bathchair), Alice Ann Oakes (Woman in Bathchair's Niece), Chantey Quartet: Larry Cahn, Leslie Feagan, Dale Hensley, Steve Stiner; Thuggish Sailors: Mark Chmiel, Dan Fletcher, Lacy Darryl Phillips; Dancing Ensemble: Eric Y. L. Chan, Mark Chmiel, Dan Fletcher, Robert Kellett, Jane Lanier, Gerry McIntyre, Alice Ann Oakes, Lacy Darryl Phillips, Michele Pigliavento, Daryl Richardson, Maryellen Scilla, Alec Timerman, Barbara Yeager

The following cast changes occurred during the run of the show:
Walter Bobbie (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Gregg Edelman (Billy Crocker), Linda Hart (Reno Sweeney), Leslie Uggams (Reno Sweeney), Nancy Opel (Hope Harcourt), Maryellen Scilla (Erma), Susan Terry (Erma), Gerry Vichi (Moonface Martin), Dancing Ensemble: Robert Ashford, Joe Deer

Version 10

Anything goes (1989-07-Prince Edward Th-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Prince Edward Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 an 1 mois 3 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : mardi 04 juillet 1989
Dernière : samedi 25 août 1990
Mise en scène : Jerry Zaks
Chorégraphie : Michael Smuin
Producteur :
Avec : Elaine Paige (Reno Sweeney), Howard McGillin (Billy Crocker), Bernard Cribbins (Moonface Martin), Kathryn Evans (Erma), Ursula Smith (Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt), Martin Turner (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Ashleigh Sendin (Hope Harcourt) and Harry Towb (Elisha Whitney)
Commentaires : Ever since this show was first performed (in 1925) it was known the original book, created by Guy Bolton and P.G.Wodehouse, had to be re-written at the last moment because the show involved a shipwreck scene and this would be too tasteless following a real-life shipwreck at that time. However, in the 1990s it was finally revealed this story was completely untrue. The original script had never included a shipwreck - it was simply too scrappy and poor to be used.
Commentaires longs: Bolton was a tax exile in London, and P.G.Wodehouse refused to leave France, so they created the work “long-distance” and posted it to Broadway. The producer, Arthur Freedley, was horrified with the result, but because they were very distinguished theatre writers, he did not want to damage his relationship with them. He called in Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse to create a new book, and in order to help Bolton and Wodehouse save face, the story was concocted that their original script had been abandoned because it involved a shipwreck (completely untrue!). Shortly before rehearsals started there had been the fatal sinking of the USS Morro Castle off the coast of New Jersey, providing the perfect excuse. Freedley announced that because the original writers were out of the country and time was too short, a new team had to take over and re-write the script. This totally false story only came to light after it had been accepted by three generations of theatre historians.

Version 11

Anything goes (2000-09-Paper Mill Playhouse-Milburn)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Paper Mill Playhouse (Milburn - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : mercredi 06 septembre 2000
Première : vendredi 08 septembre 2000
Dernière : dimanche 15 octobre 2000
Mise en scène : Lee Roy Reams
Chorégraphie : Michael Lichtefeld
Producteur :

Version 12

Anything goes (2002-12-Olivier Theatre-NT-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: National Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Salle : Olivier Theatre
Durée : 3 mois
Nombre : 80 représentations
Première Preview : mercredi 11 décembre 2002
Première : mercredi 18 décembre 2002
Dernière : samedi 22 mars 2003
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Stephen Mear
Producteur :
Avec : Sally Ann Triplett (Reno Sweeney), John Barrowman, Denis Quilley, Christopher Bennett , Daniel Crossley, Jane Fowler, Jason Gardiner, Charlotte Gorton, Richard Henders, Akiya Henry, Duncan MacVicar, Annette McLaughlin, Samantha Modeste, Tam Mutu, Alexis Owen Hobbs, Corey Skaggs , Nicola Sloane, Rachel Stanley, Mary Stockley, Kevin Brewis, Anthony Cable, Raymond Chai, Yao Chin, Simon Day, Jye Frasca, Christian Gibson, Paul Grunert, Shaun Henson, Jane Mark, Martin Marquez, Robbie O'Reilly, Duncan Smith, Robin Soans, Susan Tracy, Lee William-Davis, Claire Winsper, Nikki Worrall, Tom Espiner
Commentaires : Sera transféré au Théâtre Royal Drury Lane
Presse : NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "The musical sends you out on a high."
RHODA KOENIG for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Fabulous production."
MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "As tune-and-toe shows go, this is about as good as it gets."
CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "A glorious voyage to theatrical bliss."
IAN JOHNS for THE TIMES says, "The cast seem to enjoy themselves more as the show progresses and you will too."
ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "A triumph of ensemble."

Version 13

Anything goes (2003-10-Drury Lane Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Drury Lane Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 10 mois 3 semaines
Nombre : 387 représentations
Première Preview : mercredi 24 septembre 2003
Première : mardi 07 octobre 2003
Dernière : samedi 28 août 2004
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Stephen Mear
Producteur :
Avec : Sally Ann Triplett (Reno Sweeney), John Barrowman (Billy Crocker), Martin Marquez(Moonface Martin), Annette McLauglin (Erma), Susan Tracy (Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt), Simon Day (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Mary Stockley (Hope Harcourt), Denis Quilley (Elisha Whitney), Anthony Cable (Henry T. Dodson), Paul Grunert (Ship's Captain), Robin Soans (Ship's Purser), Duncan Smith FBI Agent, Raymond Chai (John/Luke), Vao Chin (Luke/John)
Commentaires : Transfert du National Theatre.
It had been announced that due to illness Denis Quilley would not be repeating his performance as Elisha Whitney when the show transferred to the West End. The show was already in previews at Drury Lane when it was announced that Denis Quilley had died - two days before the press night. He was 75 and had died of liver cancer.
The opening night was dedicated to his memory.
Presse : NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "The musical sends you out on a high."

RHODA KOENIG for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Fabulous production."

MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "As tune-and-toe shows go, this is about as good as it gets."

CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "A glorious voyage to theatrical bliss."

IAN JOHNS for THE TIMES says, "The cast seem to enjoy themselves more as the show progresses and you will too."

ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "A triumph of ensemble."

Version 14

Anything goes (2011-04-Stephen Sondheim Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Stephen Sondheim Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 an 3 mois
Nombre : 500 représentations
Première Preview : jeudi 10 mars 2011
Première : jeudi 07 avril 2011
Dernière : dimanche 08 juillet 2012
Mise en scène : Kathleen Marshall
Chorégraphie : Kathleen Marshall
Producteur :

 Pas encore de video disponible pour ce spectacle


1) 1934-11-Original Broadway Cast
2) 1936-01-Film Soundtrack
3) 1956-04-Film Soundtrack

4) 1962-05-Off-Broadway Cast
5) 1987-10-Broadway Cast
6) 1989-07-London Cast

7) 2002-12-London Cast
8) 2011-04-Broadway Cast