Stage Right by Ann Austin

As a young girl, “Annie” was my favorite movie. I loved the message — that optimism can bring hope to even the most dire circumstances.

Those who enjoyed this aspect of the 1982 movie will not be disappointed with the Albert Lea Community Theatre version. The play has the same general plot as the movie and many of the same songs we have all grown to love, but there are enough differences to add interest and bring new dimensions to the characters and the world they are living in.

The opening of the show immediately touched my heart and it took a while to recover. Little Molly (played by first-timer Octavia Staat) so helplessly and genuinely calling for her mother immediately brought tears to my eyes. We are introduced to all of the orphans as they wake in the middle of the night while Annie comforts Molly.

The orphans are piled in to beds. They are disorganized and scrappy but darling girls nonetheless. They are just looking for something good in their pitiful surroundings. Annie is wise beyond her years, patient and tough.

Annie, played by Charley Fleek, has a sweet voice and has no trouble holding her own on the stage. It’s a hard role since Annie is always on and interacting with many different characters throughout the two-hour play, and Fleek does a great job of engaging the audience.

The orphans are perfectly cast; each girl has her own personality and no trouble showing it. The girls’ rendition of “Hard Knock Life” and the accompanying choreography is spot on. This is something I enjoyed throughout the play — everything was so natural and fun!

The choreography was well-rehearsed but allowed for people to have their own style. Choreographer Dylan Kaercher is to be commended for his work.

Staat and the other orphans help keep the energy of the play going throughout their appearances, whether belting out songs, playing tricks on Miss Hannigan or cheering for Annie in her success. The play would not be the same without each one of them and if it weren’t for their youthfulness, it could seem quite dark at times.

The song “Hooverville,” which is an addition to the play, is a sarcastic statement to former President Herbert Hoover, blaming him for the rampant homelessness, hunger and hopelessness of the Great Depression. And later, during a meeting with President Roosevelt, his advisers talk about all the troubles of the world: unemployment, potential war with Germany, people starving, the stock-market crash, dust storms, etc.

There is harshness to the reality they are living in and this is carried out well through the roles of the adults. Mrs. Hannigan is truly mean, yet you can tell the girls actually really enjoy Elizabeth Harty — an occasional smile is noted as she scolds them.

Rooster and Lily are self-serving and ruthless, trying to survive by conning others. However, Rooster, played by Kaercher, and Lily, played by Cheyenne Severtson, are delightful in such a devious way it’s hard not to like them. And Oliver Warbucks, played by Jason Howland, is harsh and demanding when you first meet him. At one point he acknowledges, “You don’t have to be nice to the people on the way up if you’re never going back down again.”

Howland portrays Warbucks perfectly, including the completely bald head, which the children helped him shave a few days before the play opened. He is somewhat awkward in his brusqueness, which is true Warbucks style — a warm-hearted man who is trying not to be so affected by the little girl who immediately stole his heart. Howland’s voice is lovely, especially blended with the very talented Emily Troe, who plays Grace Farrell.

Troe is also perfectly cast. She is fresh, youthful and kind and she carries herself gracefully across the stage. She is a joy to watch, and I am sure we will see her and Howland in many future productions.

The actors all blend so well it was apparent they were very comfortable with each other, even as small mistakes were made — the audience laughed along and no one skipped a beat.

I did miss some of the movie roles, namely Eleanor Roosevelt. She made one brief appearance as she rolled the president on stage, but she is not by his side. And I missed Punjab.

There were still many memorable characters from the movie. Bert Healey, played by Lynn Berven, and the Hooverville Ensemble were absolutely delightful! Roger Truax as President Roosevelt was noble and gracious. Sandy, Annie’s dog, also had a cameo and the unnamed actor-dog was amazingly composed.

Some of my favorite performances were between the Hannigans and “Together at Last” with Annie and Warbucks was delightful.

The ending will be much different than most people remember, but it is more meaningful than the movie. Not only is Annie adopted by Warbucks, there is a New Deal to look forward to. Indeed, the sun will come out tomorrow.

What was a fictional story takes on a reality we all are too aware of and it’s a message all need to hear: There is hope.

 

Ann Austin is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.