CurtainUp
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CurtainUp The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
Annotated Listings |
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A CurtainUp NJ Review
Annie
That hurdle has been nicely overcome at the Paper Mill Playhouse with those roles getting their due and more, under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee. No question that Annie can be a real treat for the holidays or actually anytime when the production backs up the familiar to most audiences book fashioned from Harold Gray's long-running comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Thomas Meehan and the bubbly, if not terrific music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. In its time, Annie was the quintessence of the fast fading formula musical genre; Its very predictability made it appealing. For all its slickness, familiarity and general lack of excitement, both musically and dramatically, Annie is lovable and reassuring the way a short return to nostalgia brings a sense of security. Certainly true after our boundaries were already being stretched by new waves of musical thinking. Annie isn't an old musical, it just seems like one, which is comforting in a way, if also just a bit boring. In this production, the cast go through predictable patterns as if nothing — short of that beloved mongrel Sandy forgetting an entrance or being naughty on stage — could alter the acutely foreseeable and dimensionless activity. The Depression Era couldn't be less depressing. Even the broken windows of the Municipal Orphanage in December won't allow any ill wind to chill the warm glow that exudes from Annie and her glad-ragged cohorts as they cavort in synchronized waves of vaudevillian expertise, while avoiding as best they can the menacing of their tyrannical, hooch swigging matron of horrors, Miss Hannigan. Cassidy Pry (at the performance I saw — she alternates the role with Peyton Ella) may be one of the more sophisticated Annies to melt a capitalist's heart. The tallish Pry, with her longish, wavy ginger hair, is likably self-assured and perky as she takes an aggressive, no-nonsense approach to Annie. Christopher Sieber is a formidable but affable Wabucks. Sporting the obligatory shaved head and singing with a fine baritone voice, he balances the comic superficiality of the supporting roles with a distinguishing sensitivity. As much of a vaudeville routine as it is a grotesquely one-dimensional character (that's the way the role has evolved since it was originally interpreted by the late and great Dorothy Louden), Miss Hannigan gives the hideously (I presume on purpose) costumed Beth Leavel an opportunity to send subtlety to the wind with her two numbers "Little Girls" and "Easy Street." I doubt if Oliver Warbucks ever had a more attractive secretary than Erin Mackey whose rich soprano voice glowed brighter than the fully lighted Christmas tree in the show's final scene. Kevin Pariseau was tongue-in-cheekily effective as U.S. President F.D.R. As Annie's bogus parents, both Cooper Grodin and Kim Sava livened up the proceeding with their portrayals of Annie's bogus parents Rooster and Lily St. Regis. Annie isn't hard to take, but its magic seems somewhat diluted given the questionable deals being offered to orphans and others these days. Arf! |
Search CurtainUp in the box below PRODUCTION NOTES Annie .Thomas Meehan (book), Charles Strouse (music), Martin Charnin (lyrics), based on comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray Directed by Mark S. Hoebee Cast of Principals: Tessa Noelle Frascogna (Molly), Gabby Beredo (Pepper), Michelle Henderson (Duffy), Lauren Sun (July), Eve Johnson (Tessie), Peyton Ella and Cassidy Pry (alternates as Annie), Sloane Wolfe (Kate), Beth Leavel (Miss Hannigan), Erin Mackey (Grace), Christopher Sieber (Oliver Warbucks), Cooper Grodin (Rooster), Kim Sava (Lily), Kevin Pariseau (F.D.R.) Original Scenic Design: Beowulf Boritt Original Costume Design: Suzy Benzinger Costume Design for Paper Mill Playhouse: Leon Dobkowski Lighting Design: Charlie Morrison Sound Design: Randy Hansen Production Stage Manager: Victoria Navarro Musical Supervision and Direction: Jeffrey Saver Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes including intermission Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, N.J. Performances: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm; matinees Sunday, Thursday and Saturday at 1:30. From 11/22/17 Opened 11/25/17 Ends 12/31/17 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 11/26/17 NJ CONNECTIONS NJ Theaters NJ Theatre Alliance Discount Tix Information REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
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