The Northwest Savoyards production of “Annie” is high-quality, feel-good fun.
That quality is due in large part to the cast of “little girls” who make up the orphans in this show that stars Little Orphan Annie, a spunky redhead who takes on adventures and a lost dog named Sandy while searching for her parents. She never finds them, but does find love in the home of billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
This orphan cast of pint-size performers possessed packed resumes that included stints with the 5th Avenue and Village theaters — such as actress Anne Arnhold, who played Mrs. Greer and who at 15 has performed in 31 shows.
They also punched out songs with Ethel Merman-like panache, making this memorable score truly delightful to the ear.
So each one of these girls deserves thunderous applause, starting with Delaney Guyer as the spunky Annie; Beth El Fattal as Duffy; Katie Bartlett as July; Kelsie Engen as Kate; Kennedy Miller as Molly; Hannah Mohlman as Pepper; Dana Brager as Tessie; Brianna Jason as Billie and Kasidy Walkup as Penny.
The orphans wonderfully held up a heavyweight load of hits from this musical, belting out “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Tomorrow,” “Maybe” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”
Other standouts in this cast include the malevolent maiden of evil and head of the orphanage Miss Hannigan, sung and acted by the talented Laura Abel; the steady and staid Warbucks, played with a heart as big as New York by Doug Knoop; and Warbucks’ trusty and doting secretary Grace Farrell, played solidly by Shoshauna Mohlman.
With music direction by David Spring and stage direction by Alan Wilkie, this “Annie” came off as a flawless piece of family entertainment where little girls rule, love wins out and — here comes the relevant part — the economy does take a turn for the better.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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