Anthony Warlow is reprising his very unexciting role 'Daddy' Warbucks in an upcoming Australian production of ANNIE, and apparently Martin Charnin (the show's lyricist - just putting it out there in case you're not familiar with the name - I wasn't) is writing him a new song??
I assume that this change, if successful, could filter to the upcoming Broadway revival and encourage a name for this thankless role..(hopefully not Warlow, not that he is a name for US audiences- but he needs a stronger Broadway debut than this).
I wonder what the song will be about. Perhaps audiences are ready for a Judge's Johanna part 2, where Warbucks has to consider how much he really loves Annie. This is the kind of climax the show needs.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Hopefully it's the same song from last time? I don't see why they would need to write him another new song. And I really, really like it. The song is called "Why Should I Change a Thing" and it's on the 30th anniversary recording for anyone who hasn't heard it, though it's not sung by Warlow.
Having played Warbucks (many years ago), I can honestly say that the role is musically unexciting. One can only hope that any new music written for the character is melodic and not a snooze-fest.
It is the same song. And if he does come to Broadway, it will most likely be with DR ZHIVAGO which he's currently performing in Australia and was written for him by the SECRET GARDEN team.
Oh great, just what Annie needs, another 15 minutes added to its run time. Why not give Sandy a song as well?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
I saw a community theatre production that added this song. It's really not bad, but yeah, it slows everything down. It didn't help that it forced the incredibly hammy Warbucks I saw to suddenly become serious.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Adding this song will create some very cranky orphans on two show days.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
I'm in a Production of Annie right now and the song " Why Should I change a thing" is currently being offered in the script as optional sadly our warbucks couldn't hit his high register our Musical Director decided not to use it. I'm not very fond of the lyrics in the song but I think strouses melody is beautiful, Just a side note I know on the MTI site it says that they rent out the Original Broadway Script but there now renting out the most recent tour's script which features some minor updates to the script and score.
Warbucks sings "NYC," "I Don't Need Anything But You," and the terrific ballad "Something Was Missing." He's hardly given short shrift in the show as written. But some actors will blame anything other than themselves for not being good...
I played Warbucks last year and thankfully the director liked the song "Why Change A Thing" so we kept it. That song is very nice, and tho the character does not have any big belty songs, I think "Something Was Missing" and "NYC" are nice songs.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."