At Queens College "Anything Goes"

Our first CES assignment during the Winter Semester 2008, was teaching The Old Testament at Queens College. Each Wednesday we crossed the beautiful campus and met our students by the clock tower. We held our class in the Rosenthal Library and had the opportunity of meeting wonderful Young Single Adults there. Even though our class was small, we met a few non-member students who were interested in knowing more about The Old Testament. One memorable experience occurred when we met a Jewish young man named Gabe. He checked out a Book of Mormon at the university library. He told us he was interested in "filling some holes," and felt that "Mormonism was possibly the religion that could answer his questions." Gabe recognized the name of the church from Elder West's name tag, and asked Chas some questions about our church. Chas invited him to join our class and he attended a few weeks before we began studying Isaiah, a book the Jews do not recognize. We were able to share the message of the Restoration with him, answer his questions, and hopefully "plant some seeds."

We found Queens College students were very respectful and kind to us. We also have been impressed with how many Broadway actors graduated from Queens College. We jumped at the chance to see Cole Porter's outrageous musical, Anything Goes at the Goldstein Theater. It was produced by their Department of Drama, Theater and Dance and was extremely well done. Anything Goes opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 21, 1934 and turned out to be the fourth longest running musical of the 30s. In 1987, it was revived at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, on Broadway, with Patti LuPone in the leading role. The 1936 screen version starred Ethel Merman and Bing Crosby.

Pam Jusino (Reno Sweeney) and Max Roll (Billy Crocker)

The S.S. American, sailing from New York to London, carries an unusual group of passengers. Included amongst them are a gangster (Moonface Martin), a wealthy debutante and her mother (Hope and Evangeline Harcourt), a nightclub singer (Reno Sweeny), and a wealthy New York businessman and his stowaway assistant (Elisha Witney and Billy Crocker). It turns out that Hope is Billy's long-lost love. Unfortunately, she is now engaged to a wealthy Englishman, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. After a series of comedic happenings, Billy manages to win back Hope. Meanwhile, Billy's friend, Reno, manages to seduce and win Lord Evelyn. All this happens while Moonface Martin attempts to escape the law and Hope's mother strives to maintain her social status.

The Golstein Theater is the main venue for the college theatrical productions and has 476 seats for audience members. Overall, our experience at Queens College, the campus, students, and this production have all been positive. We had forgotten how hilarious and mad-cap the story is. We "got a kick" out of our trip on the S.S. American, Friday night. Way to go, Queens College!