Newton Abbot and District Musical Comedy Society will be taking audiences aboard the ocean liner SS American, in the group's latest offering Anything Goes. It will perform the Cole Porter musical at the Alexandra Theatre, Newton Abbot, from October 6. The cast and director Iain Douglas have been rehearsing around the clock to make sure they produce a professional and fun production, The story concerns madcap antics aboard the ocean liner as it sets sail from New York bound for London. Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and public enemy number 13 Moonface Martin aid Billy in his quest to win Hope's love. One of the show's stars is Phil Ives, who plays the hapless gangster Moonface Martin. Phil has been treading the boards around the district for the last 15 years. He joined NADMCS five years ago when he was in the pantomime Dick Whittington. He was introduced to the company by his wife Leah. She is supportive of Phil's involvement with the theatre group, and can't appear in the production as she is looking after their two-month-old son Isaac. 'Leah is very jealous,' he joked. 'She's recently finished a drama degree and itching to get back on stage.' Phil, who works as an installation engineer at shop Panasonic in Newton Abbot, enjoys playing a variety of characters. 'I think on stage you can escape the rigours and realities of life,' he said. 'You can create something, that although someone else has written, you can make it your own and put your own spin on it.' NADMCS is well-established in the local theatre scene and is going from strength to strength every year. 'One of the reasons it does so well is that everyone gels, no one is an outcast,' he said. 'Everyone helps each other out. That creates a great atmosphere and when you have directors like Iain Douglas working who is so animated and precise about what he wants it brings a sense of needing to achieve. So people always want to do well.' Phil appears in the production alongside Hazel Laugee, who plays Evangeline Harcourt – Hope's mother. They say never work with children or animals, but Hazel has put that saying aside for this show, as her sidekick is a little dog called Cheeky. 'The owner, who has the lead part, has brought the dog to rehearsals several nights to get her used to the cast, she's a lovely dog,' said Hazel. 'It was shaking at first but is fine now. We'll probably both be shaking on opening night,' she joked. She joined NADMCS 12 years ago. Hazel took a break and was welcomed back with open arms last year when she starred in Lionel Bart's Blitz. 'I wanted to join for years and when my children left home to go to university I thought it was the best time to start the acting group,' she said. 'I took it up relatively late, but I absolutely love it.' She believes rehearsals are going well and can't wait to see the audience reaction. 'We don't have much rest when we get near to our production dates, but we all love it and that's why we do it. 'It's four or five times a week rehearsing for the main characters. It's excellent when you see it all come together,' she said. Acting is a joy for Hazel and during the years she has enjoyed parts in the productions such as Carousel and My Fair Lady. Performing takes up a lot of her time as she is also a member of other acting groups. 'I am doing panto as well with Paignton Pantomine Productions. I am playing a Chinese policeman in Aladdin,' she said. 'Fortunately all shows follow on one after another, so I finish one and start another.' Anything Goes runs until October 11 at the Alexandra Theatre. For tickets, call the box office on 01626 203570.
