MADCAP antics abound on the high seas in a classic musical coming to the stage in Wantage and Didcot.

A love-struck young man stows away on an ocean liner in pursuit of a beautiful heiress in the show Anything Goes, with music and lyrics by the legendary Cole Porter.

Packed with well-known numbers, including I Get a Kick Out of You, You’re The Top, It’s De-Lovely and Anything Goes, the musical is being staged by Jigsaw Stage Productions at The Beacon this month and Cornerstone arts centre in early May.

Wall Street broker Billy Crocker, played by Sam Cornick, has sneaked aboard the SS American, which is en route from New York to London, after meeting the wealthy Hope Harcourt (Julie Roberts) at a party.

The situation looks hopeless as she is engaged to the wealthy English peer Lord Evelyn Oakleigh (Mike Davies).

But Billy is able to call on the assistance of his friend Reno Sweeney (Helena Cuddon), an evangelist turned nightclub singer, and gangster ‘Moonface’ Martin, Public Enemy No 13 (James Edwards).

Cue the use of some hilarious disguises and a bit of good old-fashioned blackmail.

The show’s director Gill Morgan said: “It’s a very challenging show to direct but what fun with brilliant one-liners, amazing music and a cast that just keep going through good rehearsals and the odd not-so-good one.

“It’s also a challenge both for the choreographer with so much dance content and the wardrobe mistress who is working overtime with so many costume changes."

She added: “However, one thing you can be certain of is that the audience will go home both laughing at the jokes and singing along to the memorable music!”

Backing up director Morgan as assistant director and and choreographer is Karen Brind, who also plays gangster Martin’s sidekick in crime, Erma. The musical director is Jevan Johnson Booth.

Other members of the cast include Chris Jones as Hope’s mother Evangeline Harcourt, Nigel Thornbury as the banker Elisha Whitney, who is also Billy’s boss, Bill Jestico as the Captain, Andrew Barber as the Purser, and Pam Hale as Chinese.

The original book on which the show is based was by Guy Bolton and P G Wodehouse and later revised by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse So, if you’re a fan of musicals, book yourself a passage aboard this one. The show is being performed at The Beacon in Portway from Wednesday to Saturday, April 15 to 18, at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are £12 and £10 concessions for the evening performances, and £10 and £8 concessions for the matinee. They are available from The Beacon, the Cut 21 hair salon in Mill Street, Bretts Pharmacy in Grove, or by calling 01235 767509.

Next month, the show transfers to Cornerstone where the performances will be on Saturday, May 2, at 7.45pm and on Sunday, May 3, at 6pm. Tickets are £13.50 and £12.50 concessions and £10.90 for members and are available online at www.cornerstone-arts.org or by calling 01235 515144.