“Annie” at Theatre by the Sea

By Richard Pacheco

            The third show of Theatre by the Sea's 80th season is the 1977 hit musical "Annie". The show is based on Harold Gray's comic strip "Little Orphan Annie", it won seven Tony Awards and ran for 2,377 performances before closing in 1983. It was based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip  LittleOrphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin the book by Thomas Meehan. It won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Sc ore and Best Choreography. The production is bright, uplifting and fun sparked by energetic performances that never stop and always deliver the goods. It is heart warming and a sheer delight from beginning to end.  It tells the tale of the plucky orphan, Annie, who has been waiting for her parents to return for her for ten years. In this rags to riches story, she gets selected to spend Christmas with one of the world’s richest men Oliver Warbucks.

            Richard Sabellico, who directed and choreographed it with fire and finesse, also directed it at TBTS in 1983 played Rooster during the original Broadway run of the show. His direction here is brisk, bright and full of sass. His choreography is full of flair and style.

Lauren Weintraub is Annie and she delivers a simply stunning performance. She is 14 and it is made all the more remarkable by the fact that she stepped into the role the day it opened and learned in six hours. She is no stranger to the role having played it before at Maine State Music Theatre and has done the voice of Zoe in the Academy Award nominated animated film, “A Cat in Paris.” She is poised and perfect in the role, deftly able to balance the comic moments with the more touching moments with equal skill and grace. She has a strong voice and knows how to belt out a tune with spunk as she does with "Maybe", "Hard Knock Life", "Tomorrow", "NYC.” She is sheer delight as the spunky orphan determined to find her missing parents no matter what comes.

Todd Fenstermaker is a delight as Daddy Warbucks, the calculating businessman who transforms into a kind, loving parent. He has a terrific sense of comic timing and is able to hit the right emotional notes when needed as well. He has a strong singing voice which he show to good use in the touching, “Something is Missing”, when he realizes that Annie is something missing in his otherwise full life. His duet with Lauren, called "I Don't Need Anything" is utter delight with a terrific dance to accompany it.

The scenes between Annie and Daddy Warbucks are by turns funny and touching. For example when he tires to give her a new necklace for the old one she wears in the hopes of her parents returning to her is quite moving and poignant. Or also when he realizes that Annie is a wonderful addition to his life.

Margaret Robinson is excellent as Grace, Daddy Warbuck’s assistant. Grace is warm and compassionate, genuinely caring and Margaret shows this effect off well in her performance.

Jan Neuberger as Miss Hannigan is wonderful, pure magic as the mean spirited harridan who hates children with a passion. She oozes nastiness with comic flair and finesse, never failing to delight. She has a strong singing voice as well. She shines in “Easy Street” with the nefarious Rooster and his flashy girlfriend Lily.

Nathaniel Shaw as Rooster and Becca Gottlieb as Lily are real treats. Nathaniel is a wonder as the sleazy, nefarious, calculating Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s brother. Becca Gottlieb is pure fun as the ditzy blonde girlfriend, Lily. The two are comic gems as the Mudges, Annie’s faux parents.

There are winning performances abounding here throughout the whole cast. Tom Roberts as FDR and Michael John Lewis as Bert Healy performed by are notable and enjoyable.

The orphans, played by Taylor Rose Donovan as Tessie, Emma Senerchia as July, Jennifer Pamula as Duffy, Nina A. Pezzello as Pepper and Lily McMahon as Kate and finally. Eva Senerchia who also moved into this role opening night as the youngest orphan, Molly; their singing and dancing are utter fun and vastly entertaining.

The musical direction by Nick DeGregorio is marvelous in all its aspects.

The sets by Bert Scott are spot on and splendid. The costumes by David Costa Cabral are lovely and fabulous.

There are many musical treats in this show with often splashy and effective dancing. Songs such as Margaret in “NYC”, "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here”, or ", "You Won't Be an Orphan for Long", "Annie" are delightful and vastly entertaining.  So “It’s A Hard Knock Life” with Annie and the orphans.

Sabellico keeps his direction smart and poised. His choreography runs the gamut from smart and sassy to keen and effectively moving. The choreography shines in particular in “Easy Street” and “Little Girls” as well as “Hard Knock Life.”

It’s the prefect show for young and old alike. Children will love it as much as their parents.

"Annie" (17 July - 10 August)

THEATRE BY THE SEA

@ 364 Card's Pond Road, MATUNUCK RI

1(401)782-8587