Timeless charm of ‘Annie’ comes alive at ABQ Little Theatre
“Little Orphan Annie” began as a comic strip in 1924, and during the Great Depression its archetypal characters took on greater significance: Annie the optimistic orphan and her little dog, Sandy, struggling against a difficult and often evil world; Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, the hardworking billionaire capitalist surprisingly touched by the indomitable orphan; the Dickensian Miss Hannigan, an alcoholic misanthrope in charge of the orphanage. These characters forged their way into America’s consciousness, and soon versions of the formula appeared in radio, film and finally Broadway, where “Annie” opened as a musical in 1977 and ran for 6 years.
The musical has remained popular ever since and is Albuquerque Little Theatre’s choice for a Christmas show this year. It qualifies as a “Christmas show” because its grand climax occurs on Christmas morning, when the evil Rooster and his paramour, Lili, are foiled in their plot to convince Warbucks that Annie is their long-lost daughter and claim the $50,000 reward.
Director Henry Avery has assembled 10 children to play the orphans, headed by Nina Martinez Kish as Annie. It has been said that children and animals will always steal the show, and that is especially true here, where joining the kids is Sandy the adorable canine (who has quite a bit of stage time). At one point, the dog ran across the stage, briefly acknowledging the audience with a puzzled glance when she heard the collective “awww” issuing from the patrons. That glance garnered one of the night’s biggest laughs.
The action of the show takes place in 1933, the height of the Great Depression, and some of the best jokes seemed to have been lost in the mists of time. For instance, at one point Warbucks is told that President Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, Mahatma Gandhi and Harpo Marx had called. Asked what Harpo wanted, the butler replies, “He didn’t say.” Because the pantomime Harpo Marx never spoke in any of his many movies, this was a joke that at one time must surely have earned at least a few laughs.
A strong cast of adult actors/ singers buttresses the child actors. Especially good is Staci Robbins as Miss Hannigan. The talented Nick Fleming plays her con man brother Rooster and the excellent Somer Sloan his partner in crime, Lili
St. Regis. The three of them perform one of the evening’s best numbers, “Easy Street.”
Robert Landry has the appropriate mixture of gravitas and warmheartedness as Oliver Warbucks, while Christine Smith is quite good as his devoted secretary, Grace (whom I thought surely he was going to marry, providing Annie also with a loving mother).
Set designer Glenn Pepe does a nice job creating the opulence that contrasts so forcefully against the decrepitude of the orphanage and the homeless encampment Hooverville. He also provides mobile cutouts of the New York cityscape, which serve as the background to one of the show’s ensemble pieces, “NYC” (although I think the “Astro Hotel” is supposed to be the Astor Hotel.)
“Annie” is playing through Dec. 24 at ALT, 224 San Pasquale NW in Old Town. Go to albuquerquelittletheatre.org or call 505-242-4750 to make reservations.