It's hard to go through life without some kind of exposure to the classic musical Annie. Many people are familiar with the Tony-winning musical from its original Broadway production back in 1977. Even non-theatre fans have probably heard of the little red-headed orphan who belts out the iconic tune "Tomorrow." And the 2014 movie version starring Jamie Foxx mainstreamed the song "It's the Hard Knock Life," bringing awareness of the musical to a younger generation.
The national tour of Annie opened at the Hershey Theatre on Tuesday, July 21, and plays there through Sunday, July 26. Like a refreshing ice cream cone on a hot day, Annie is a great summer treat that is perfect for the whole family.
The story follows 11-year-old orphan Annie, played by Issie Swickle, who has her hopes set on finding her birth mother and father. The mean head of the orphanage Miss Hannigan, played by Lynn Andrews, strongly dislikes Annie (well, really all kids in general), and is disgusted when wealthy businessman Oliver ("Daddy") Warbucks, played by Gilgamesh Taggett, takes Annie under his wing for the Christmas holiday.
Swickle exudes confidence on the stage, and she brings a nice freshness to the title role while still preserving the classic image. Andrews dominates her character, and plays a convincing antagonist. Taggett is also quick to impress as his character balances authoritative business with fatherly love.
Garrett Deagon and Lucy Werner make up the comic duo of Rooster and Lily, respectively, and are entertaining in their roles, particularly when they team with Andrews for their performance of "Easy Street." Ashley Edler is a breath of fresh air as Warbucks' assistant Grace Farrell, and her voice is as sweet as her character.
The kids who make up the rest of the orphans put on quite the show and are a joy to watch, each bringing their own unique character to life. And of course I can't leave out one of the main stars of the show, Sandy, who brings a smile to everyone's face every time she trots on stage wagging her tail.
In full disclosure, Annie has never been a favorite musical of mine; however, I really enjoyed this production. The show is filled with a surprising amount of chuckles, for both adults and kids. I found myself laughing more than I expected, and even my 7-year-old son, who is usually Mr. Serious, was smiling and giggling throughout the show. One word of caution for parents... While the show is mostly very family friendly, there is a bit of mild language used, including several uses of the "D" word and a few "shut up"s.
This production of Annie absolutely does justice to the original, and anyone hoping to relive the familiar tunes and story they remember from years ago should be pleased with the show. Those experiencing the show for the first time can expect to enjoy a classic feel-good musical with catchy tunes and plenty of talent.
Annie plays at the Hershey Theatre through Sunday, July 26, 2015. For more details and ticket information, please visit www.hersheytheatre.com.
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