ANNIE: Musical. Book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Directed Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro. SHN Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., San Francisco, CA. 888-746-1799 or www.shnsf.com.
JUNE 3 – June 14, 2015 [rating: 3]
Sandy upstages Annie in Annie (The Musical) at the Golden Gate.
A world famous W. C. Fields’ quote is, “Never work with animals or children.” Obviously nine year old Issie Swickle playing the lead role of Annie on the opening of the National Tour in San Francisco did not have that option. Yes, Annie’s mangy mutt Sandy (played by a rescue Terrier mix named Sunny) received a thunderous ovation during the curtain call but he had to share that applause with a competent cast who were warmly received at the Golden Gate Theater for this 10th National Tour. . . but who is counting. The role of Annie will be shared at select performances by Angelina Carballo and Adia Dant.
In the past 38 years since the Broadway opening role of Annie the lead has been shared by myriad of youngsters ranging in age from 9 to 14. Andrea McArdle became a household name after playing the Annie for years on Broadway. The musical was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won seven, including the Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. It is the ultimate “feel good” show with upbeat songs becoming an audience favorite wherever it has played and it has played the world over. For this new national tour there have been changes that are not noticeable with the exception that it is a stripped down production, as are many National tours.
The story is based on the 1927 long running comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” and has been adapted to film five times. The last three movies are based on the storyline found in the Broadway version of Annie.
It is 1935 in the midst of the Depression and our heroine Annie is living in a New York City girl’s orphanage run by the mean Miss Hannigan (marvelous Lynn Andrews) who hates children. In the first scene it is established that Annie is sort of the protective titular head of the rag-tag group of waifs with the maudlin “Maybe.” The mood is further set by “It’s the Hard Knock Life” that the children’s ensemble put their hearts into with some clever choreography by Liza Gennaro.
Annie decides she is going to look for her parents who had abandoned her on the steps of a church when she was an infant. This brings up Annie’s signature solo song “Tomorrow” before she escapes to roam the streets of New York City. During that night of freedom she meets Sandy, stumbles into a “Hooverville” encampment of the homeless, is finally caught and returned to the care of Miss Hannigan who belts the satirical “Little Girls” further cementing the character as a meanie. Did I mention (horrors) she drinks a lot of booze.
Things pick up for our heroine when the multi-billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Gilgamesh Taggett) decides to treat one orphan to a week of luxury during the Christmas holidays. Yep, that Oliver Warbucks’ whose secretary Grace Farrell (Ashley Edler), you guessed it picks Annie to be that lucky girl.
Before we get to the end of the show we meet Daniel “Rooster” Hannigan (Garrett Deagon), Miss Hannigan’s younger brother, a convict who escaped jail so he can rob his sister. He is accompanied by his gold digging girlfriend Lily St. Regis (Lucy Werner). They hatch up a plot to get their hands on some reward money that eventually ‘does them in’.” Other major characters are President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Jeffrey B. Duncan) and his cabinet members including Interior Secretary Harold Ickes (John Cormier).
Although Annie and the waifs set the action in motion, it is the adults who take most of the honors. Lynn Andrews’ Miss Hannigan is absolutely perfect as are Garrett Deagon and Lucy Werner. Their trio of “Easy Street” is a show stopper. Gilgamesh Taggett has a powerful voice and has great timing for his many satirical lines that involve F.D. R.’s New Deal. It is uncanny how much Jeffery Duncan resembles F.D.R. and Jeffery B. Duncan’s “Tomorrow” is hysterical.
Issie Swickle’s Annie is hampered by her shrill voice but she is an ultimate trooper for the entire 2 hour and 20 minute (with Intermission) show. The music wins the evening that includes “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You” and the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.”
CAST: Issie Swickle, Annie; Gilgamesh Taggett, Oliver Warbucks; Lynn Andrews, Miss Hannigan; Ashley Edler, Grace; Garrett Deagon, Rooster; Lucy Werner, Lily and Allan Ray Baker as FDR. Sunny, a 4-year-old rescue terrier mix, stars as Sandy. The Orphans are: Angelina Carballo, Adia Dant, Lilly Bea Ireland, Sydney Shuck, Lilly Mae Stewart and Isabel Wallach.
ARTISTIC TEAM: Directed Martin Charnin; choreographed by Liza Gennaro; scenic design by Beowulf Boritt; costume design by Suzy Benzinger; lighting design by Ken Billington; and sound design by Peter Hylenski; The lovable mutt “Sandy” trained by William Berloni; musical supervision and additional orchestrations by Keith Levenson; casting by Joy Dewing, Holly Buczek. The tour is produced by TROIKA Entertainment, LLC.
Recommendation: Worth seeing.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com.
