BWW Reviews: As On Broadway GCT Revives Ever Popular ANNIE
By: Don Grigware
Annie
book by Thomas Meehan; music by Charles Strouse & lyrics by Martin Charnin
directed by Michael Sterling
Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT)
through June 30
The phenomenally successful 1977 Broadway musical Annie took America by storm and has been filmed twice. After 35 years, and especially now during our country's - what seems to be unending - economic slump, its Depression era optimism holds up better than ever, and in GCT's current well-staged production, there's much to savor.
The main success of Annie is in its star; if you don't have an Annie that can act and sing, you don't have a show. Luckily, GCT's Annie - Emma Howard - nicely fleshes out the role.
Howard has a strong voice and a sweet, caring demeanor which makes her Annie more than just a cartoon, in fact, a truly likeable tot.
Also charismatically effective is Peter Husmann as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. Warbucks should be cold and indifferent upon first meeting Annie, and eventually warm to her due to her open gestures of affection, opening a brand new chapter in his life. Somehow Husmann is less hard-boiled in the beginning, but his overall warmth, even though it is apparent too soon, is genuine and his charm, ultra-engaging. Dynell Leigh as Miss Hannigan sings remarkably like Dorothy Loudon, the original, but the comparison stops there. Miss Leigh makes the character her own boozy intolerant creation, but holds back a notch. She needs to go for broke in her cruelty toward Annie and the other orphans. Her offstage gutteral scream in response to the adoption is heartbreaking and terrifically executed, as is her expose with "Little Girls".
Heather Dudenbostel is glorious as Grace Farrell. Not only is she loyal but also affectionate toward Warbucks, Annie and a joy to everyone with whom she comes in contact. Clayton Farris and Christa Hamilton as con artists Rooster and Lily St. Regis are over-the-top delightful.
Don Woodruff makes a splendid FDR and proving that there is no such animal as a tiny part, Kyle Kelley makes Drake the butler a richly attentive and caring human being. And who can forget Copper the Dog as Sandy, hardly young but well trained and adorable. Kudos to the entire ensemble who dance and sing effectively under the guidance of choreographer Jerry Evans and director Michael Sterling who does a lovely job of staging, hardly an easy task for theatre in the round.
Annie's overly cheery outlook is so welcomed in our troubled era, always making it a favorite year round, and GCT offers a commendable production for your enjoyment.
Photo Credit: Nathan Milisavljevich
http://www.glendalecentretheatre.com/
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