Annie

Annie is a good show for community theatre with its multiple roles for little girls and large chorus numbers, but it is also fraught with problems. The first three numbers are carried by the junior cast members and the adults don’t start to sing until the 25-minute mark, so unless the kids are good, the show has a big hole at the beginning and doesn’t fire. But that wasn’t the case with this Savoyards production which ticked all the right boxes.

Leading the cast in the title role was 12-year old April Rose Beak who gave one of the best performances of Annie I have ever seen and certainly sang it better than the girl I saw in the recent professional production. Already with professional credits in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, April brought out the spunk of the character, was appealing, and looked every inch the star when she made her entrance dressed in red descending the stairs at the finale. A thrill went through the audience at that magic moment reminiscent of Dolly’s return to the Harmonia Gardens restaurant in Hello Dolly. Every one of her songs was a highlight and she more than carried the show.

Annie’s moppet co-stars were also good, having a nice mix of height and age range, well-drilled in their routines, and with strong belty voices. The well-costumed chorus also excelled and brought vocal strength at every appearance. Rod Jones captured Daddy Warbucks’s outwardly-gruff-but-softy-underneath character with an appealing style and although the character’s songs are few managed to bring life to N.Y.C. and a tenderness to “Something Was Missing.” Jenna Featherstone’s no nonsense Grace also charmed and she sang the heart out of “You’re Gonna Like It Here.” Jason Fagg’s Rooster had guile, Jessica Ham was a cute bimbo-ish Lily, while Jacqui Cuny’s Miss Hannigan was appropriately blowsy and boozy.  Kay Halford’s production dragged and even when I saw it midway through the season, the scene changes were still interminable, but on the plus side musical director Warryn James produced a big Broadway sound from his 22 pit musicians.

Peter Pinne

Images: April-Rose Beak as Annie and Belle the dog as Sandy & April-Rose Beak [Annie] and orphans [Image: Christopher Thomas].