Professional theater productions rarely compare to the charm and fun of a community show, and Bangor Community Theater has been charming local audiences for many years. Their newest offering, Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes,” playing this weekend at the Bangor Opera House, is another glittering success.

The story takes place on the SS American, a cruise liner casting off from New York City for England. The voyagers include Reno Sweeney, a nightclub celebrity with an evangelist past; Billy Crocker, lovable general manager to tycoon Elisha J. Whitney, also aboard; Hope Harcourt, a business heiress; Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, her aristocratic fiance; Moon-face Mooney, who is Public Enemy No. 13, and his feisty sidekick, Bonnie Latour.

The onboard situation goes something like this: Reno is in love with Billy who is in love with Hope who is engaged to Evelyn who falls in love with Reno who gets no kick from champagne. In the meantime, Moon-face impersonates a minister to escape the law and Bonnie has a whole lot of zany fun with the sailors.

It’s your run-of-the-mill cruise ship soap opera. Add the snappy Cole Porter score, some sequins, sailors and tap shoes, and you have one very successful and crazy American musical. The BCT is up to this task and delivers a spirited and lively show. The only thing missing from their glitzy, alfresco production is a fan blowing sea air from the wings.

Although this show idealizes celebrities, it requires unfailing dedication from the supporting cast, and these are the BCT performers who deserve the biggest round of applause. Whether swabbing a deck or stepping out for a little tappy tune, this is a dedicated crew. The tap dancing troupe from Thomas School of Dance deserves mention here for their flashy numbers, but their blank facial expressions were a drawback.

As Reno, however, Elena DeSiervo has no shortage of smiles and pouts for her character. She does too frequently strike the same poodle poses, and therefore misses the opportunity to give her character a bit more depth. And her solos could use a bubbly kick of that champagne, but De-Siervo is de-lovely as Reno.

Sean Faircloth plays the clean-cut, all-American sweetheart Billy Crocker, and is most entertaining and resourceful. His best moments are when he ogles Hope or when he plays off Reno or Moon-face, played hilariously by Steven Robbins.

Melanie Bronson, as Bonnie Latour, is giddy with excitement. Her boisterous and bawdy musical numbers are the best in the show.

Daniel Tandy is quite smashing as the clueless English gentleman Evelyn Oakleigh. As Hope, Brownwyn Kortge is a bit stiff, but what she lacks in theatricality, she makes up for with her angelic singing voice.

Musical director John Haskell and his nine-piece ensemble deserve mention for their jazzy performances.

Director (and set designer) Kenneth Stack has proved again that he runs a tight ship. Along with costumers George Miller and Audrey Swanson, and choreographer Joe Calebrais, Stack delivers a show that’s tops.

“Anything Goes” will play at 8 p.m. May 11 and 12 and 2 p.m. May 13 at the Bangor Opera House. Proceeds will benefit the Pine Tree Chapter of the Red Cross. Tickets are available at the Grasshopper Shop, Libby’s Card and Gift, My Maine Bag, and the Red Cross Office. For information, call 941-2903.