‘Annie’ bright as the sun

After a week of snowstorms, freezing rain and falling branches, the last thing I wanted to hear was, “The sun will come out tomorrow. …”

However, when young Caitlin Kinnunen’s vibrant voice filled the Everett Performing Arts Center, any doubt about the spirit and wonder of the Village Theatre’s production of “Annie” shattered.

Led by Caitlin’s Annie and her equally young and talented cohorts at the orphanage, plus the nastily wonderful Miss Hannigan (Bobbie Kotula), the outstanding performances of Hugh Hastings and Joel Rene as Daddy Warbucks and his assistant Grace, “Annie” is destined to be a sell-out.

“Little Orphan Annie” fans and “Annie” moviegoers know the story: Rich industrialist Oliver Warbucks wants to share his luxurious home with an orphan for Christmas. Annie is an orphan left on the steps of Miss Hannigan’s orphanage as a baby. When Grace comes looking for an orphan, she finds Annie.

On returning home from a trip, the tall, bald and self-assured Warbucks meets Annie. He was expecting a boy, but Annie immediately captures his heart and a match is made between rich and poor in wealth and spirit.

Directed and choreographed by Steve Tomkins, “Annie” is enchanting, fun and captivating from opening curtain until the final bow. At a recent Sunday performance, young and old never fidgeted or fell asleep. The only one yawning was Annie’s dog Sandy, much to the audience’s pleasure.

However, as always, some scenes and performances are truly unforgettable, and here are a few:

The seven young orphans first sing and dance their way into your heart in “Hard Knock Life.” Stacked one on top of the other in their bunk beds, their spunk is matched only by their young, strong voices. Kara Jones (Duffy), Emili Scherrer (Kate), Leah and Olivia Spokoiny (Pepper and Molly), Bethanie Willis (Tessie) and Ashley Wells (July) are amazing.

And then there’s Kotula as Miss Hannigan. Lying atop her desk, singing “Little Girls,” the wild-haired orphanage mistress offers a first peek at her comedic talent. Bending a little dolly in half, then removing its head, she growls, “Some women are dripping with pearls, some women are dripping with girls.” She then stomps around, hair flying, insanity gleaming in her eye, and without speaking a word, keeps the audience roaring with laughter.

Then, of course, there’s Caitlin’s “Tomorrow.” Sticking up her chin and grinning, her earnestness, voice, and honest performance captured everyone on the first set of tomorrows.

The scenes change quickly from Hooverville with its shacks below the lit-up 59th Street Bridge, to the flashing signs of the streets of New York, to the New York skyline where the sun sets and lights go on in the buildings up and down the horizon.

All this plus the talented performances of Hastings (Warbucks) and Rene (Grace), and the outstanding orchestra directed by R.J. Tancioco, add up to a wonderful treat for the whole family.