Review: ANNIE, 'A Hard Knock Life' is in Charlotte's Belk Theater

A record setter for the longest running musical, ANNIE, is now in Charlotte. Featuring the beloved book and score by Tony Award ® winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin with iconic songs including "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life."Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Belk Theater, July 14-19. Tickets on sale at Belk Theater box office: 704-372-1000.

If you are wondering what to do with the younger set this summer, ANNIE is the show for you. It's at the Belk Theater until July 19th, with matinees and evening performances. This ageless tale based on the Harold Gray comic strip character, Little Orphan Annie, is about an orphan, Annie, who possesses a locket and note, which gives her hope that her parents will come back to claim her. The role is played perfectly by Issie Swickle, who brings humanity to her role. She and the other orphans are under the thumb of the mean, Miss Hannigan, played with bawdy comedy by Lynn Andrews, a woman caught in the depression without means of support, except for taking care of little girls, which she loaths. Through serendipity, Annie is introduced to billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, played by Gilgamesh Taggett, who asks his personal assistant, Grace Farrell, played by Ashley Edler, to find an orphan to join his home Christmas celebration. This show is a feel good play with a simple story of optimism winning the day. The whole cast is wonderful, but a "shout out" goes to Lilly Mae Stewart, who plays the youngest child in the orphanage, Molly.

The sets depicting New York are spectacular, designed by Beowulf Boritt. The animals used to portray Annie's stray dog, trained by William Berloni, are wonderful. This play originally debuted on Broadway in 1977 and still entertains! Don't miss your chance to see ANNIE in Charlotte.