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Annie
by Desert Stages Theatre  THE SHOW: It’s a Hard-Knock
Life for orphans during The Great Depression. Especially when you’re being
raised by the little girl-hating Miss Hannigan. But in this beloved musical by
Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin based on that curly
red-headed Little Orphan Annie of
comic strip fame, all those problems are nothing that can’t be fixed just so
long as you believe the sun will come out Tomorrow.
And if that optimism ain’t enough? Try being adopted by Daddy Warbucks – the
billionaire!
THE PRODUCTION: Desert Stages Theatre’s presents their last Annie
Jr. at their theater in the round, and Director Angela
Kriese knows how to use it with terrific staging and choreography (along
with co-choreographer Tiffany Atkinson).
She also has a great vision and careful attention to detail in unfolding a
delightful production of the classic. Nice costumes (Karen O'Neil), set
design (Paul Filan, Angela Kriese, Laurie Cullity) and painting (Paul
Filan and Rick Sandifer) enhances the visuals. And as usual, they do it with four different
casts, with their closing cast on the stage for this last show of their six-week
run. And they leave it all on the stage with tons of talent and, in the end, a
few tears.
We’ve got little Sydney
Hassler with an amazingly big voice as our Annie – knocking out Maybe
and Tomorrow sonorously and emotionally, and soaking up the magic of her
first glimpse of her new home at Warbucks’ mansion. Guest performer Kyle
Chavira is Warbucks who has a good, understated humor and an easy feel for
the character and his budding relationship with Annie that grows until they
don’t need anything but each other. Natasha
Milligan completes the trio as Warbucks’ secretary Grace Farrell, and she
has a natural warmth for Annie from the moment she walks into the orphanage to
see Miss Hannigan spanking the child. She’s also got some gorgeous vocals and a great sense of humor as
she happily digs at Hannigan whenever the opportunities present themselves.
Reagan Burows is
said Miss Hannigan, and she’s a riot as she clings to her last remaining
shreds of sanity amongst all the little girls who delight in pulling at those
last shreds. Wyatt Eastman and Talia
Novack, as her brother Rooster and his girlfriend Lily St. Regis, become her
partners in crime to swindle Warbucks out of fifty Gs and take up residence on Easy Street. The couple is a rip pretending to be Annie’s
long-lost parents.
Walter Hall as Drake and the rest of Warbucks staff infuse the mansion with great energy and dance, Sam Markson is an over-the-top radio personality Bert Healy, Star to Be Grace Dimond and tourists take us on a spirited walk through NYC, and adorably big dog Sam Novack sticks to the script as Sandy. While Bo O’Brasky, Erin Tarkington, Hannah Novack, Caitlyn Freeman, Emily Ref, and Sadie Krotonsky lead the cast of orphans who add much throughout including a charming Never Fully Dressed and impassioned bemoaning of their Hard-Knock Life.
Performed November 13 - December 20, 2015 Photos by Mick Milligan Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
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