A recent visit to the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention reminded me of the origin of “Annie,” for there were displayed a 1930’s full-color Sunday comic strip and a mug with Annie advertising Ovaltine (from Annie’s days as a radio serial character). Internet research traces the character to the 1885 poem “Little Orphant Annie” and “Annie” comic creator Harold Gray and his use of the strip for didactic purposes to rail against President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal.
Yet the world now knows her simply as Annie, the spunky New Dealer in favor of optimism, Roosevelt, and everything innocent and good. This is the Annie presented to a “T” in the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre’s version of the now-classic musical, thanks in no small part to the brilliant direction and choreography of Samn Huffer.
…brimming with nostalgia…brilliant direction and choreography…
Kylee Hope Geraci makes a wonderful Annie, bursting with optimism and a powerful voice, especially in the Annie anthem and show-stopper “(The Sun Will Come Out) Tomorrow.” A standout performer is Melani Drummer as Miss Hannigan, belting out numbers such as “Little Girls.” She has a gift for comedy, as do her cohorts Rooster and Lily (Jordan Stocksdale and Tori Weaver) looking for a quick way to “Easy Street.”
With bald head, diamond stud, and powerful frame and personality, Brian Lyons-Burke epitomizes Oliver Warbucks. He particularly shines in duets with Annie such as “I Don’t Need Anything But You.” Megan E. West is charming as his secretary Grace Farrell, and sings in a lovely voice heard in “I Think I am Going to Like It Here” and “You Won’t Be an Orphan Long.” The whole children’s cast does a knockout rendition of “It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” quite possibly the second best-known song from “Annie.”
What I liked especially about this production were the surprises! We are first given a look at a dog-catcher holding a dog, represented by a stuffed animal. Then – lo and behold! – Annie’s canine sidekick Sandy appears on stage as an actual dog. Arf! Miss Hannigan is listening to a radio in her office which is merely a makeshift prop. Then we are treated to an actual cathedral-style radio in the Oval Office. Annie has straight hair, rather unlike the iconic comic strip character. Then she is transformed into the red curls for which she is famous.
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre performance of “Annie” is – appropriately — brimming with nostalgia. A fun scene is a recreation of a 1930’s radio studio, complete with the “Boylan Trio” singing a commercial jingle. As fictional radio star Bert Healey (an animated Jacob Hale) holds up his own applause lines, the audience at the Way Off Broadway participates as part of the radio show audience.
In addition to nostalgia and optimism, the musical welcomes in the Christmas spirit in spades. A recreation full of ambience fills the modest stage at the Way Off Broadway as we are transported to Times Square, surrounded by electric lights and Christmas shoppers “running home with their treasures.” This atmosphere and line from “Silver Bells” prepare us for the next Way Off Broadway offering which we await eagerly, “Silver Bells” beginning on November 24.
Running Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes with intermission.
“Annie” plays through November 3, 2018 at the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre in Frederick, MD. For more information, visit online.
