Around Town - "Anything Goes" at the Ahmanson

Last weekend, I saw the Center Theater  Group's revival production of Cole Porter's 1934 "Anything Goes" at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.
While the play itself was a bit dated the production had some charming scenes
especially the big tap dance number to the title song.

I couldn't help but be struck by the clever and racy lyrics from the title song.
Seriously...grandmas and gigolos!

Times have changed,
And we've often rewound the clock,
Since the Puritans got a shock,
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
If today,
Any shock they should try to stem,
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Plymouth Rock would land on them.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, God knows,
Anything Goes.
Good authors too who once knew better words,
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose, Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes
When grandmama whose age is eighty
In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo's,
Anything Goes.
When mothers pack and leave poor father
Because they decide they'd rather be tennis pros,
Anything Goes.
If driving fast cars you like,
If low bars you like,
If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like,
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose!
When every night,
The set that's smart
Is intruding in nudist parties in studios,
Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes
If saying your prayers you like,
If green pears you like
If old chairs you like,
If back stairs you like,
If love affairs you like
With young bears you like,
Why nobody will oppose!
And though I'm not a great romancer
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes...
Anything goes! 

As I worry about the degradation of our culture 

with our celebrity obsessed media and growing narcissism in our youth

it is good to be reminded that there was a certain amount of anxiety over societal change in the 1930's

and Cole Porter called it, in an amusing way of course, with these lyrics.
Plus ca change, etc.

And, if you haven't seen "De Lovely" 

the film about Cole Porter staring Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd

I do recommend it.