Lynn Andrews‘ robust, saucy Miss Hannigan and Lilly Mae Stewart’s insouciant performance as the tiny orphan named Molly don’t exactly upstage the rest of the excellent cast in the solid and energizing production of “Annie” at the Buell Theater, but they are two actors to watch closely.
* * * ½ musical
The sturdy story remains unchanged: Spunky little optimist orphan Annie is certain her forgetful parents just can’t remember where they left her. She rallies her fellow inmates—er, orphans — in dreaming of their own parents and reflecting on their trying circumstances (“It’s a Hard Knock Life”).
The orphans are a charming ensemble, especially the smallest one, Molly (Stewart), who sees confident Annie (Issie Swickle) as her protector. Stewart plays Annie “at select performances,” the program says, and those performances would be worth seeking out. Stewart has serious star potential. That’s not to diminish Swickle, whose Annie is a winsome mixture of tomboy and affection-starved child, with a gorgeous voice.
Annie’s antagonistic caretaker, Miss Hannigan (Andrews, a Denver native and East High graduate), is a shrew born too early for the tiresome Child-Free movement, but she’s a card-carrying member at heart. Plump and bawdy, Andrews is a brilliant physical comedian who pushes every one of her scenes up to 11. Her charlatan brother Rooster (Garrett Deagon) is suitably slimy.
The deceptively spare set is excellent, especially the towering bridge that looms over a Hooverville that Annie discovers when she runs away (“We’d Like to Thank You”). The choreography lives up to expectations: jazz hands, chorus lines, and the requisite hand-on-chin pose that declares the end of a musical number.
As Oliver Warbucks, Gilgamesh (!) Taggett is appropriately pompous, with a heart that melts faster than a Hershey’s kiss when Annie enters his life. Jeffery B. Duncan is a likable FDR, though John Cormier’s Harold Ickes (the stalwart civil rights- advocate) shines even brighter.
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477, cmartin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/byclairemartin
ANNIE Book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin. Directed by Martin Charnin, choreographed by Liza Gennaro. With Issie Swickle, Lynn Andrews, Lilly Mae Stewart and Gilgamesh Taggett. Through May 10 at the Buell Theater, 950 13th St. Tickets at 800-641-1222 or denvercenter.org
“annie”
The strong but disconcertingly monochromatic cast of the traveling production features stellar performance by Denver native Lynn Andrews, and young actors Issie Swickle and Lilly Mae Stewart.
