The sun has come out on the Grand Theatre stage
Nothing says season's greetings like a homeless 11-year old girl and her mangy mutt alone on the streets of New York City at Christmas.
Annie's hard-knock life is now on stage at London's Grand Theatre and the local production breaths new, youthful life into the act, which originally opened on Broadway in 1977.
The story follows the classic tale of Annie, a little redheaded orphan who is trying to find her biological parents during the Great Depression in New York City. After Annie escapes from the restraints of Miss Hannigan, the headmistress of the orphanage, and is promptly returned by police, she is chosen to spend the Christmas holidays with industry tycoon, Oliver Warbucks. While Annie is pampered and adored upon by Warbucks and his staff of servants, Miss Hannigan and her criminally-minded brother, Rooster, scheme to swindle money away from the billionaire.
By far the best assets to London's stage version of the musical are the seven ostracized little girls who are forced to mop floors and sew dresses at the orphanage run by the evil Miss Hannigan (Karen Skidmore).
On opening night the role of Annie was played by London native Sarah Dedyna, who attends grade eight at Jean Vanier Catholic School and is also involved with the Original Kids Theatre Company.
Sarah's portrayal of orphan Annie is animated, believable and best of all, her voice is powerful despite her size. She not only leads the troop of girls in singing and dance routines, she also shines above and beyond the adult actors.
The roles of Molly (Beth MacDonald), Duffy (Melissa Peters) and tiny Kate (Danielle Strange) steal the show during their songs “Hard Knock Life” and “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.” Beth owns the role of Molly by letting little bits of her childish personality and humor peak through the orphan façade.
In 1982, the original stage production of Annie was adapted into an extremely successful movie, starring Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan. This is where the Grand's production becomes at times disappointing. It's impossible to duplicate Burnett's iconic film performance and it is as equally difficult to make the role original. Skidmore, although holding her own in the acting, singing and dancing departments, is caught halfway between Burnett's rendition and her own interpretation of Miss Hannigan.
Skidmore redeems herself during her performance of “Little Girls”, where her intoxicated interpretation of Miss Hannigan provides laughter from balcony to orchestra.
Although the film version of Annie differs from the stage script and plot, one character is noticeably missing from stage. Punjab, Warbuck's trusty sidekick and Annie's savior in the screen version, plays an intricate role in the film and without his character on stage the narrative is appropriately adjusted, which results in a less dramatic production.
The set of Annie changes from an orphanage, to the streets of New York City, to a mansion and back to an orphanage in the blink of an eye, which is accredited to set designer John Pennoyer, who did an extraordinary job.
Annie is a fun holiday production for every age and is a great way to spark the holiday spirit in any Grinch. The music is so catchy it will have everyone singing along by curtain call and if that is not enough to entice you to get down to the Grand, keep in mind Sandy the dog is played by an actual real, absolutely adorable, dog.
Annie is on stage at the Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond Street, until December 24. Fanshawe student tickets are already sold out at the Biz Booth, but regular admission tickets can be purchased from the Grand's box office or by calling 672-8800, 1-800-265-1593, or online at www.grandtheatre.com. Ticket prices range from $15 to $49.
Annie's hard-knock life is now on stage at London's Grand Theatre and the local production breaths new, youthful life into the act, which originally opened on Broadway in 1977.
The story follows the classic tale of Annie, a little redheaded orphan who is trying to find her biological parents during the Great Depression in New York City. After Annie escapes from the restraints of Miss Hannigan, the headmistress of the orphanage, and is promptly returned by police, she is chosen to spend the Christmas holidays with industry tycoon, Oliver Warbucks. While Annie is pampered and adored upon by Warbucks and his staff of servants, Miss Hannigan and her criminally-minded brother, Rooster, scheme to swindle money away from the billionaire.
By far the best assets to London's stage version of the musical are the seven ostracized little girls who are forced to mop floors and sew dresses at the orphanage run by the evil Miss Hannigan (Karen Skidmore).
On opening night the role of Annie was played by London native Sarah Dedyna, who attends grade eight at Jean Vanier Catholic School and is also involved with the Original Kids Theatre Company.
Sarah's portrayal of orphan Annie is animated, believable and best of all, her voice is powerful despite her size. She not only leads the troop of girls in singing and dance routines, she also shines above and beyond the adult actors.
The roles of Molly (Beth MacDonald), Duffy (Melissa Peters) and tiny Kate (Danielle Strange) steal the show during their songs “Hard Knock Life” and “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.” Beth owns the role of Molly by letting little bits of her childish personality and humor peak through the orphan façade.
In 1982, the original stage production of Annie was adapted into an extremely successful movie, starring Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan. This is where the Grand's production becomes at times disappointing. It's impossible to duplicate Burnett's iconic film performance and it is as equally difficult to make the role original. Skidmore, although holding her own in the acting, singing and dancing departments, is caught halfway between Burnett's rendition and her own interpretation of Miss Hannigan.
Skidmore redeems herself during her performance of “Little Girls”, where her intoxicated interpretation of Miss Hannigan provides laughter from balcony to orchestra.
Although the film version of Annie differs from the stage script and plot, one character is noticeably missing from stage. Punjab, Warbuck's trusty sidekick and Annie's savior in the screen version, plays an intricate role in the film and without his character on stage the narrative is appropriately adjusted, which results in a less dramatic production.
The set of Annie changes from an orphanage, to the streets of New York City, to a mansion and back to an orphanage in the blink of an eye, which is accredited to set designer John Pennoyer, who did an extraordinary job.
Annie is a fun holiday production for every age and is a great way to spark the holiday spirit in any Grinch. The music is so catchy it will have everyone singing along by curtain call and if that is not enough to entice you to get down to the Grand, keep in mind Sandy the dog is played by an actual real, absolutely adorable, dog.
Annie is on stage at the Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond Street, until December 24. Fanshawe student tickets are already sold out at the Biz Booth, but regular admission tickets can be purchased from the Grand's box office or by calling 672-8800, 1-800-265-1593, or online at www.grandtheatre.com. Ticket prices range from $15 to $49.
