Issie Swickle stars in the title role of “Annie the Musical.” Sunny, a rescue terrier mix, is her co-star (as Sandy). Photo by Joan Marcus.
- Lynn Andrews hams it up as Miss Hannigan in “Annie the Musical.” Photo by Joan Marcus.
- In “Annie the Musical,” Lilly Mae Stewart (right) sings, dances and does a cartwheel as Molly, alongside Issie Swickle in the title role. Photo by Joan Marcus.
- Issie Swickle, in title role of “Annie the Musical,” is backed here by the company. Photo by Joan Marcus.
[Woody’s [rating: 3.5]
Good things come in threes.
Like “Annie the Musical,” which just opened at the SHN Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco.
It has, to start with, bouncy tunes, talented cast and uplifting theme.
It also has a knack of bringing synchronized pleasure to three generations — at least in my family.
My 8-year-old granddaughter, Hannah, loved it.
So did Laura, her mom: mid-lifer. And so did I: geezer.
Issie Swickle, a 9-year-old Floridian whose long brown hair was cut and dyed red for her “Annie” title role, is absolutely professional.
And has a strong voice.
Yet I believe two other performers have even more charisma.
The first, scene-stealing Lynn Andrews, turned orphanage queenpin Miss Harrington into the best villainess since Glenn Close’s portrayal of Cruella de Vil in “101 Dalmatians.”
Andrews, like Melissa McCarthy, uses her plus-sizedness as a hilarious comic prop.
She’s so over-the-top it’s impossible to stop grinning when she’s on stage — whether singing like a snarling witch in “Little Girls,“ embellishing a raunchy song-and-dance trio such as “Easy Street,” or lip-synching a Jello commercial.
Then there’s a challenger to Shirley Temple as cutest kid actor ever, Lilly Mae Stewart, who sings, dances and even cartwheels as Molly, one of seven little orphaned girls.
She’s a teeny 10.
Speaking of cute, Sunny, a 4-year-old rescue terrier mix who plays Annie’s adopted pooch, Sandy, fits that bill.
Hannah, in fact, confided that one of her favorite “Annie” moments was “when Sandy yawned.”
Her others included two numbers, “It’s the Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow, “ the show’s optimistic anthem, and the fun idea of bunk beds (though she wouldn’t want to be stuck in a lower).
Laura, meanwhile, “thoroughly enjoyed the show, which can be appreciated on both adult and kid levels.”
She’s right, of course.
Though most youngsters will be clueless about The Great Depression and Hoovervilles, FDR and the New Deal, or, indeed, orphanages, they certainly can comprehend kids’ plaints about drudgery, meanness and a desire to be part of a family.
When “Annie” first appeared on Broadway in 1977, it won seven Tony’s, including best musical.
Martin Charnin, who doubled as lyricist, directed it then. His direction of this touring company is his 19th go-round.
“Annie” spotlights a capable cast of 25 (plus or minus the dog), and an orchestra of 21. And although the girls shine in choreography by Liza Gennaro, particularly a number featuring a Rockettes-like chorus line, their high-pitched voices make words difficult to distinguish.
Some theatergoers might consider the show’s length — about 2-1/4 hours — excessive for younger children.
Others might object to Annie not looking like the original comic strip character.
Until she’s “gussied up” in Act II by billionaire Daddy Warbucks’ minions. That’s when her straight hair suddenly turns curly and she dons the red dress we all recognize.
Some also may find fault with a knife threat, a doll’s head being torn off, and the word “damn” being used repeatedly.
Never, however, is Annie anything but an optimist, spouting such niceties as “You gotta have dreams.”
The show’s an old-fashioned happy-ending creation likely to force you to hum songs by Charles Strouse, who also co-wrote “Bye Bye Birdie.”
A key by-product, by the way, stems from SHN joining the St. Anthony Foundation in its “Socks in the City” campaign. Seat-holders are asked to bring a new pair to a performance and deposit it in SHN Golden Gate Theatre lobby barrels. Collected items will be given the homeless.
Because my family isn’t homeless, Hannah could smile a lot during “Annie.” And Laura could smile while watching Hannah smile.
And I could smile while watching them both.
Hannah’s mere existence gave me an excuse to go in the first place. I probably wouldn’t have without her, and I’d have been the loser.
But I believe after this run is successful, “Annie” will turn up again — tomorrow.
“Annie the Musical” runs at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St. (at Market), San Francisco, through June 14. Night performances, 5:30 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Matinees, noon Sundays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tickets: $40 to $160 (subject to change). Information: (888) 746-1799 or shnsf.com.
Contact Woody Weingarten at www.vitalitypress.com/ or voodee@sbcglobal.net
