Anything Goes - Barbican / U.K.Tour

Here is another version and possibly even better than Sutton Foster

Are there some 42nd Streeters there?

A Felicity Kendal looks lost and doesn’t even know which way to sway

B it’s over edited by someone in TV that doesn’t let it breathe. You almost can’t see the choreography.

C I love Sutton Foster. I’ve seen her in lots of shows. But this oddly doesn’t work for me. Is it the lack of setting in show? Too uptight? Hmm.

Yes - George Beet for one!

She may be known for her Tony award-winning, all-singing, all-dancing performances on the Broadway stage but in person she’s much more introverted than many would expect – a lot less showy than other musical stars of her calibre. She comes across as sweet-natured, wholesome even.

Certainly not someone comfortable with controversy. But controversy is what greeted her on her arrival to the UK and it led to the first day of rehearsals for her West End debut beginning with an apology.

Social media controversy
A few weeks after Foster was announced as the new star of Anything Goes, a video surfaced showing her on stage mimicking performer Jennifer Holliday in Dreamgirls.

And the excitement that one of Broadway’s finest was set to perform in the UK quickly turned to anger, with Foster’s behaviour scrutinised and criticised on social media, and commentators pointing out it was inappropriate to imitate the vocal style of a black performer. There were calls for her to be removed from the show and talk of people demanding their money back.

Foster became aware of the video’s existence just days after arriving in London to begin a period of quarantining and describes that time as “a pretty dark couple of days”. She says she is “mortified”.

The clip was filmed during a tour she did 11 years ago in the US, in which she would put random songs into a hat and pull one out each night to perform. “One of the songs I decided I wanted to sing was And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going from Dreamgirls, because I love the show and I am obsessed with Jennifer Holliday,” she says. “And I, at the time, made this decision to sing it emulating her.”

She adds: “It’s hard as now I only have the perspective of today to look back and realise how insensitive and thoughtless that was, to make that choice to perform it that way – and I am just so sorry to anyone I have offended or hurt, especially her, as I revere her.”

Foster learned that performance had “popped up and was causing chatter on social media” right before rehearsals for Anything Goes started. “I was like…” she trails off, gathering her thoughts, before continuing: “I was mortified that I had not realised it, that is why I am like: ‘Oh my gosh.’ It would be so much better if I had realised it.”

So she made sure the first thing she did when starting rehearsals was offer an apology to the cast and crew of Anything Goes. “I spoke to the cast on the very first day as I didn’t want anyone in the room to…” she pauses.

“I wanted to look people in the eye. No one knows me. I didn’t want anything to cast doubt on who I was or what I stood for, or the type of space I am so passionate about creating. We have had this devastating year and we have this opportunity to come back as an industry and be better. And I am this major advocate for creating a space that is safe and inclusive, where everyone is seen and valued and heard, and where everyone can do their best work. I wanted to be completely transparent to everyone in that room, as I was mortified I would lose anyone’s trust, so I wanted to clear the slate from the beginning.”

This week's episode of Sheridan's Showstoppers is with Sutton Foster. Worth a listen to. Apparently she is a big crafter.

One look at her insta will tell you that.

Bravo her for dealing with it her way, with the people she has to work with, rather than random strangers on social media stoking the fire.

If we’re all held accountable for things we did or said 10, 15, 20 years ago- we would all be ‘cancelled’.

So looking forward to this!

When she was on Sheridans Showstoppers it was mentioned that there were 50 in the show. Now I don't know if that is cast and orchestra combined as it wasn't made clear.

Got my tickets today! September 14th cannot come quick enough. It’ll be my first time in the Barbican and I’ve heard great things about the theatre itself so I’m very, very excited.

Enjoy! Highly recommend the backstage tour if it’s up and running by then and a nice addition before or after the show.