ARTICLE
Review: Annie The Musical
By Freddy / 30 Aug 2016 (Tuesday)
Parents who seek a fun, light-hearted musical for the whole family should consider Annie. Annie may not be a show that wows, but it is hard not to like. The classic storyline may be predictable and draggy at times, but it has enough sincerity to redeem it. It constantly pokes fun at adults’ pessimism that it makes me want to put down my thinking hat and let myself be entertained by this delightful musical.
Annie the Musical
Date: Now till 11 Sept 2016
Time:
- Tue - Fri: 7.30pm
- Sat: 2pm & 7.30pm
- Sun: 1pm & 6pm
Venue: MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
Ticket Pricing: $65 - $175
(Book your tickets at Sistic, here!)
Watch our interview with the cast of Annie here:
Its Tony-award-winning score certainly has a few memorable numbers such as “Maybe” and the famous “Tomorrow”, which are reprised a few times too many. Having said that, I was impressed by the set and backdrops for they look amazing and brings up the aesthetic attractiveness up a notch.
Annie is blessed with a talented cast, especially Heidi Gray as the titular character. The role can border on annoying with Annie’s undying optimism, but Heidi managed to sell it earnestly and passionately. Appearing in nearly every scene, her task is challenging but she portrays Annie’s emotional roller coaster gracefully.
Another standout performance is Lynn Andrews as Miss Hannigan. She is funny, scheming, and intimidating all at the same time. Her performance of the song “Little Girls” alone deserves a standing ovation. While Lynn is great all by herself, she truly shines while interacting with other characters, including his brother, Rooster (Garrett Deagon), and his wife, Lily (Lucy Werner), who seem to have a great time on stage.
Gilgamesh Taggett plays a key role as Oliver Warbucks, Annie’s father figure in the musical. While it feels that Oliver warmed up to Annie somewhat abruptly, Tagget has enough chemistry with Heidi to make the audience root for them. Oliver’s relationship with his assistant, Grace Farrell (Ashley Edler) is interesting to follow.
The musical includes 6 local children who play the orphans. They managed to gel well with Heidi and Lynn, and are a delight to watch. Nevertheless, the show-stealer is Annie’s dog, Sandy, who was the most talked-about performer during intermission and after the show.
While the target audience for Annie is clearly the children, the parents accompanying them can enjoy the show as well. The story is interspersed with political commentaries on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration. While such scenes at times feel out of place, they provide context of the setting and also breaks from the story that is obviously stretched to fill up two acts.
Set in 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, the show is about an orphaned girl finding her birth parents as much as it is about finding hope in a bleak situation. The sentiment echoes the current economic outlook and may provide the audience with a much-needed positivism. Its message of optimism that resonates until today, nearly 30 years after it premiered on Broadway, is testament to the timelessness of the Tony-award-winning musical.
Which are your favourite songs from 'Annie'? Let us know in the comments below!