Through November 25, 2007
Reviewed by Steve Callahan
That classic Broadway heart-warmer--the musical, Annie---has opened at the Fox, and I'm searching for the one right word to describe it. "Sensational"?--a little too hypey; "Triumphant"?--a bit overpowering; "Brilliant"?--just a tad overused. Ah, yes, I have it now: the one right word for this production is "PERFECT"!
The wonderful sets designed by Ming Cho Lee are a perfect fit for the Fox's big stage. They are beautifully theatrical in a classy, classic Broadway sense--stylized with just a hint of the comic strip, sometimes a bit askew. Much use is made of flat background drops, but the painted perspective is stunningly convincing; scene changes are swiftly fluid, and the sets, though gorgeous, never overpower the performers with high-tech glitz.
And such performers! Ten-year old Amanda Balon in the title role has mountains of energy in her tiny frame; when at the end she appears in Annie's traditional red dress the association that had been teasing my mind came clear to me: this kid is a stick of dynamite! She opens her mouth as wide and round as the world and out comes this amazing, strong clear voice--and, unlike too many young singers, she's kept it free from the affected vocal tricks of adult pop singers: it's a pure, honest, terrific kid's voice. Her striding physical confidence shows her dancer's training, and her histrionic skills when she yearns for her parents will wring your heart. Hers is a tale of paying your dues and show-biz perseverance: two years ago Amanda toured playing the role of Molly, the littlest orphan. A year ago she toured playing Duffy, a slightly older orphan--and understudying Annie. This year she's it--a quite marvelous Annie! And with her small stature she can ride that pony for several years to come.
Annie is surrounded by simply splendid talents: David Barton brings conviction, sympathy and a rich and powerful voice to Daddy Warbucks and Abby Stevens is charm itself as Warbucks' secretary, the graceful, beautiful Miss Farrell.
Miss Hannigan is the buxom, bawdy, tippling, wonderfully comic meanie who's in charge of the orphanage. It's really the best adult role in the show. And Lynn Andrews is truly magnificent. She has an outstanding voice and she gleans every tiny crumb of a laugh. Michael Zygo, as "Rooster", the bad guy, simply defines the role. He's funny and sleazy, with a really fine voice (and a "crow" better than Peter Pan's). Zygo displays a skilled dancer's crisp and graceful physicality. And Cheryl Hoffman gives Lily St. Regis just the right sexy, "Noo Joisey" flavor.
The six orphan girls are just as perfect as the rest. They're full of life and mischief and love and need and toughness-and you want to adopt them all.
Annie premiered on Broadway over thirty years ago, but the show is a solid survivor. It's just as engaging and endearing and exciting as it was way back then. You can't beat that classic story: ruthless middle-aged billionaire falls in love with spirited eleven-year old girl, happy ending, just desserts, etc. This current production, by the way, is directed by the wonderfully gifted Martin Charnin, who wrote the lyrics for the original show. And the new show is totally true to the original.
Don't miss it. And do take your daughter . . . or grand-daughter. (I've never felt so steeped in "little girlness" as I did in that audience, surrounded by literally hundreds of the charmers. Like Miss Hannigan--but delighted with it)
See Annie in this wonderful, definitive production at the Fox. It plays through November 25.
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