Suspense, love, thugs: 'Anything goes' with LCS musical

On stage, aboard a cruise ship, Hope Harcourt, played by Breeanna Pierce, checks a woman's health as the drama unfolds in the Le Mars Community School's musical, "Anything Goes." The show starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thursday) and performances run through Saturday [Click to enlarge]

The show, which runs tonight (Thursday) through Saturday, tells the tale of a banker's assistant named Billy Crocker (David King) who, after a brief encounter, has fallen for Hope Harcourt (Breeanna Pierce), a debutante who is out of his league.

To make matters worse, she is soon to be married to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Sam Pelelo-Ray) onboard the cruise ship S. S. American.

Moonface Martin, played by Kris Ohrlund, gets a surprise smooch from another actor in the LCS musical, "Anything Goes." The plot includes mistaken identities, romance, and comedy, too. [Click to enlarge]

Billy stows away on the ship to try to win Hope back, but he is spotted by his gal pal Reno Sweeney (Ellie Hemmingson), nightclub dancer-turned-evangelist, who is there to perform with her Angels (Katelyn Ewing, Megan Kinney, Nicole Plueger, and Sarah Strub).

Reno reluctantly agrees to help Billy pursue Hope.

Billy gets an unexpected assist from another of Reno's chums, Moonface Martin (Kris Ohrlund), Public Enemy Number Thirteen.

Moonface is traveling with Erma (Tiara Wentz), gangster moll of Snake Eyes Johnson, Public Enemy Number One, who missed the boat.

In attempting to evade his bank boss, Eli Whitney (Nate Hettinger), and chase Hope, Billy must keep a low profile, especially after he learns that Hope is escorted by her over-protective mother Evangeline (Bethany Fischer).

Billy dons disguises to get close to Hope while avoiding Whitney, eventually being publicly (mistakenly) identified as Snake Eyes Johnson.

Erin Ohrlund, the director of the LCS musical, said the cast's character development has been tremendous.

"From the leads to the minor roles, each person in the cast is really focused on responding in character to the events around them," she said.

At one point in the show, Ohrlund said, Kaitlin Lassen, the purser, had the idea to show the softer side of her otherwise businesslike character as she rescues a wandering dog.

"Her babbling to the pooch gives depth to her character while it makes a really funny moment in the show," Ohrlund said.

The irresistible score by Cole Porter will have the audience tapping along to songs like "I Get a Kick Out of You," "It's De-Lovely," "You're the Top," "Friendship," and, of course, "Anything Goes."

"We picked 'Anything Goes' because we wanted to showcase our multi-talented students -- they can act, sing, and dance in this fun musical," Ohrlund said. "It's a light comedy, so the kids really enjoy it."

Tickets are on sale now in the high school office (546-4153) and will also be available at the door. Tickets prices are $5 for children and students and $7 for adults. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. for the Nov. 13-15 performances in the middle school auditorium.

"Almost anything goes in this musical," Ohrlund said. "The audience can expect marauding ministers, goofy gangsters, a sultry sermonizer, dancing angels, smitten sailors, some light romance, and catchy songs that will leave them humming on their way out the door."

The LCHS Thespians will sell Cheesecake Factory cheesecake slices and cookies at intermission.