2008 Woodie Awards
'Annie' sweeps through town, thrills
Blair Tellers, Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/20/07
Last Updated: 8/9/07
Set in the 30s, "Annie" has been described as a fanciful romp through the depression era in New York City. The dialogue itself is laced with political satire but comes overflowing with enough jolliness and optimism to make even a Hooverville look inviting.
"Nothin in your pockets?" Annie exclaimed to a crowd of garbage toting Hooverville-ites. "Well now ya got room for your cold hands!"
Annie herself is tremendously talented and animated. Played by Melissa O'Donnell, she has the vocals capable of reaching high notes in songs like "Tomorrow" and the acting experience to not be too over-the-top.
It's the mischievous group of scarily talented little girls, however, that completely captivated the theatre with their sassy antics and darling dance numbers. During songs like "It's a Hard Knock Life," they had the stage entirely to themselves and dominated it with impressively commanding presence, proving to be the life and spark of "Annie."
Nearly upstaging Annie herself along with the entire company of actors was scene stealer and youngest actress Anastasia Korbal. Only six years old, Korbal is barley 3-foot-5 and easily had the audience eating out of her tiny palm every time she pranced out onstage.
Performing since she was three, Korbal played the part of Molly, the littlest orphan, and had everyone baffled at how someone so tiny could possibly emit a voice loud enough to fill an entire opera house. If anyone stole the show it was her - parading around in a classic one-sie pajama piece complete with button up bottoms, imitating a drunken Miss Hannigan.
Other noteworthy cast member is Conrad John Schuck, who played Daddy Warbucks. Schuck is most famous from his role as Painless in the original "M*A*S*H" motion picture and countless appearances in "Law and Order." Schuck brought the talent and veteran expertise to "Annie," having played Warbucks in past productions.
The onstage bond between Schuck and O'Donnell seemed to be one of a genuinely affable connection, but the jump from an awkward, "what do I do around this kid?" Warbucks, to an "I love you Annie, I want to adopt you Annie" Warbucks, was slightly unbelievable due to a lack of scenes that actually developed their relationship.
"Nothin in your pockets?" Annie exclaimed to a crowd of garbage toting Hooverville-ites. "Well now ya got room for your cold hands!"
Annie herself is tremendously talented and animated. Played by Melissa O'Donnell, she has the vocals capable of reaching high notes in songs like "Tomorrow" and the acting experience to not be too over-the-top.
It's the mischievous group of scarily talented little girls, however, that completely captivated the theatre with their sassy antics and darling dance numbers. During songs like "It's a Hard Knock Life," they had the stage entirely to themselves and dominated it with impressively commanding presence, proving to be the life and spark of "Annie."
Nearly upstaging Annie herself along with the entire company of actors was scene stealer and youngest actress Anastasia Korbal. Only six years old, Korbal is barley 3-foot-5 and easily had the audience eating out of her tiny palm every time she pranced out onstage.
Performing since she was three, Korbal played the part of Molly, the littlest orphan, and had everyone baffled at how someone so tiny could possibly emit a voice loud enough to fill an entire opera house. If anyone stole the show it was her - parading around in a classic one-sie pajama piece complete with button up bottoms, imitating a drunken Miss Hannigan.
Other noteworthy cast member is Conrad John Schuck, who played Daddy Warbucks. Schuck is most famous from his role as Painless in the original "M*A*S*H" motion picture and countless appearances in "Law and Order." Schuck brought the talent and veteran expertise to "Annie," having played Warbucks in past productions.
The onstage bond between Schuck and O'Donnell seemed to be one of a genuinely affable connection, but the jump from an awkward, "what do I do around this kid?" Warbucks, to an "I love you Annie, I want to adopt you Annie" Warbucks, was slightly unbelievable due to a lack of scenes that actually developed their relationship.
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