Amid hijinks, ploys, confessions and mistaken identities, the students of Valley Central High School will set sail with its performance of Anything Goes.

The S.S. American is preparing to set sail from New York to England. Billy Crocker, a young assistant to Wall Street tycoon Elisha J. Whitney, a passenger on the ship, decides to stow away in hopes of wooing his long-lost love and wealthy debutante, Hope Harcourt, who is also on board. However, much to Billy’s chagrin, Hope’s mother, Evangeline Harcourt, is delighted that Hope is engaged to be married to a stuffy Englishman, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (who is also on board), upon arrival in England.

Also on the ship are Reno Sweeney, an evangelist-turned-nightclub singer, and her bevy of “angelic” showgirls, who will be providing music and dance entertainment during the crossing. The ship has no sooner set sail than Reno runs into Billy, an old friend, and he persuades her to help him break up Hope’s engagement.

“Moonface” Martin, a gangster known as “Public Enemy 13” and his moll Erma are disguised as a reverend and a missionary, respectively. They have two Chinese “converts” and all four attempt to evade the law while on board. Billy eventually learns the identity of this misfit bunch, and, in exchange for his silence, they too join in the scheme to break up Hope and Lord Evelyn.

After more disguises, ploys, confessions, mistaken identities, and marriage proposals, all done to the fantastic music of Cole Porter, how will everything work out? Who knows? Anything goes!

John Newhall stars as Billy Crocker, Erin Gillette plays his love interest Hope Harcourt, Keren Oskam plays Reno Sweeney, Sean Campbell plays Moonface Martin and Mya Hebbard plays his partner in crime, Erma LaTour. Alexia Roman plays Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt, the meddlesome mother, Jayden Whitfield plays the stuffy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh and Mason Davis plays Wall Street tycoon Elisha J. Whitney.

For several cast members, life imitates fiction when they find similarities between their characters and themselves.

Oskam said she loves the confident and fun-loving personality of Reno.

“It’s definitely been a dream role of mine,” Oskam said.

Campbell said he enjoys his character because Moonface’s personality as a witty tough guy with a sensitive side is similar to his own.

Newhall said he sees Billy as a young guy figuring out his place in the world, a feeling he knows well as a graduating senior.

“[Billy is] a stereotypical man trying to make his way in the world,” Newhall said.

Showtimes are on Friday, April 5 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 6 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens and can be bought at the door or online at www.vcsd.k12.ny.us/Page/15160. For information email VCHSMusical@valleycentralschools.org.

photos: Eva Greenberg