Victoria Munck

A synopsis of “Annie” on the Broadway in Hollywood website describes this touring production as arriving 'just when we need it most.' By the end of the musical, that tagline doesn’t feel very accurate. Annie’s positive attitude is certainly inspiring, but it only works within a well-executed show, and this unfortunately fails to deliver.

But for anyone who truly loves theater, or film, or understands why they are separate art forms to begin with, the production is somewhat unsettling. In a time where it feels increasingly difficult to push original stories forward, this adaptation – and its estimated $23.5 million budget – do not alleviate the struggle. It is hard to believe it was created by artists with a real passion for musical theater, as evidenced by its prioritization of sensational effects over thoughtful writing. Nonetheless, its producers have no obligation to save the integrity of performing arts. So, if they wanted to unite fans of a 1980s classic, they did their job well.

While Fanny’s emotional nadir is tragic, it makes her triumphant bout of confidence in the show’s finale all the more rewarding. In her very last moment onstage, she divorces Nick and resolves to start fresh in the theater, reprising bold lines from the iconic “Don’t Rain on My Parade” with more authority than before. Ending with a commanding belt, McCrimmon’s show-stopping energy continues to buzz through the audience long after the curtain falls, breathing new life into a story older than herself.