SPOTLIGHT: 'Anything Goes' except opera in Law School Light Opera show

Cole Porter did not write operas. That is what the organizers of the Law School Light Opera Company's production of Porter's Anything Goes hope their potential audience understands when considering whether or not to buy a ticket for the show. According to third-year Law student Laura Gasser, the show's producer, the company, which previously staged Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, shifted its focus to popular Broadway shows with a production of Pippin last year. "There's no longer any opera in this opera company," Gasser said. "But there still is plenty of light, witty, entertaining fun." Gasser said that the reason for the shift in material was the hope that a more popular, more accesible show would get more Law students involved in the annual production. And this year's cast of almost 30 is eagerly awaiting the chance to show off its talents for the University community, more eagerly, perhaps, than the typical undergraduate actor. "For many of us, this is our only extra-curricular activity," third-year Law student Lisa Washington, who is a cast member as well as the show's choreographer, said. "A lot of Law students don't have the time to give to more than one activity so this is our one chance to let it all hang out." Peter Katz, the show's director and a first-year Law student, said the show, which features such well-known songs as "You're the Top," "Blow Gabriel, Blow!," and the famous title song "Anything Goes," is also the perfect show for anyone, undergraduate and graduate students alike, who need a release from the grind of classes, tests and homework. "It's got humor, it's got intrigue, and of course great music," Katz said. "What else could anyone want from a show?" Katz added that although the show was written over 60 years ago it has retained its popularity through the decades, with a Broadway revival as recently as 1988. But despite its popularity, Katz was still forced to make some changes to the script to make a 1930's show into a 1990's show. Toward this end, Katz said the parts of Ching and Ling, two Asians newly converted to Christianity who figure minimally in the plot were eliminated because they would be "clearly offensive to the audiences we are trying to attract." Instead of converts, Katz has made the two characters into Law professors. In addition, the part of the leading man, Billy Crocker, will be played by third-year Law student Todd Cox, who is black. Because Crocker spends much of his time in disguise, the fact that Cox is the only black man in the company may require the suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience to see him as unrecognizable to characters in the show. "When you're casting a show, you cast the best people for each role," Katz said. "If someone is right for a role, then the color of their skin shouldn't make any difference." Anything Goes opens tomorrow night in the Annenberg School Theatre at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Annenberg Center box office and at the door.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.