Anyone Can Whistle in Concert
Minneapolis Musical Theatre gave me some firsts at last nights production. In all the years I have lived in the Twin Cities I have never been to The Conn Theater at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center. I have also never seen the musical Anyone Can Whistle before. I do have a cast recording from the 1995 benefit concert in New York City. That concert did include Angela Lansbury, who was also involved in the original 1964 Broadway production. It’s been years since I last listened to that recording.
This was such a fun musical. Doing the musical in concert really helped with telling the story. I think if we have a fully realized production with more cast members and scenery it could have muddled up the storytelling. Having a concert production really allowed this audience member to get into the story and to enjoy the music and lyrics of the late Stephen Sondheim.
The story is about a small town that is having financial issues. Also the reservoir has dried up. The town council along with guidance from the mayor create a miracle by having water pump out of an ordinary rock. The town begins to make money by charging admission to the miracle and allowing folks to drink from the water. When 49 patients from the local asylum show up. The town council can’t have them drinking the water and exposing the fraud. If none of the 49 are cured, then the gig is up. Lots of musical theater shenanigans start to play out. Sometimes to hilarious results.
The musical also has themes and situations that are still relevant in 2025. The adage of the more things change, the more they stay the same rings true with some of the situations in Anyone Can Whistle.
Anyone Can Whistle in Concert was perfect for Minneapolis Musical Theater. Their motto is “Rare Musicals. Well Done.” Anyone Can Whistle fits that bill perfectly. The cast was perfection! It was a great ensemble.
There are only 4 more performances left to catch this gem of an experience. Please visit www.aboutmmt.org for tickets. This show should not be missed.
