Review: Annie @ The saenger theater

“Annie’s traveling production shines with spunk and sass like a New Deal penny.”

New York Lonely Girls: Annie @ The Saenger Theater
review by Eileen Daley

There’s an unwritten rule in show business to never work with children, animals, or starring roles for women over 40. Part of the eternal appeal of 'Annie', which played this weekend at the Saenger Theater, is that it bucks all of these conventions. The success of each production hinges on a large cast of child actors, an intelligent yet appropriately scruffy mutt, and the ratio of relatability to delicious cruelty in the portrayal of a certain harried orphanage matron. I was delighted to watch Friday night’s performance of the classic 1977 musical walk this tightrope with grace and pluck. 

Annie’s popularity was evident with the theatergoing crowd, which skewed younger than most at the Saenger – it was a sea of mothers and daughters (or very lucky orphans), some in red curly wigs and matching fire-engine dresses. It made me reflect on why Annie is one of those child actor roles that really sticks with people.

It’s a very popular school production, and has spawned no less than three feature film adaptions in the last five decades. Almost every theater kid knows an Annie, played an Annie, or was rejected as an Annie. It’s a role that’s never in danger of being aged up, as anyone who’s tried to sing “Maybe” after their voice dropped can tell you. Paradoxically, though, the stars shouldn’t be more polished than they are charming – it’s harder to buy the woes of an orphan that are sung through perfectly golden pipes. So, it’s an achievable goal for young wannabe actors who dream of the hard knock life.

The musical zips along at a quick pace that keeps kids and adults alike entertained. Since it’s based on a comic book, the scenes play out almost like episodic vignettes, bookended by a catchy tune near the top and its matching reprise to tie things up.

The wonderful ensemble cast really shines in the large performances such as “We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” two of my favorites, and they even manage to make the pat love letter to metropolis “N.Y.C.” go down a little smoother. Though Annie’s dog Sandy is offstage more than I’d like, the under-dog/study Kevin puts in a perfect effort (the program helpfully provided pictures of both dog actors, so we could identify him by the distinctive ears).

As for the main cast, they were dazzling and heartbreakingly vulnerable in turns. The namesake lead Rainey Treviño belts with the best of them and makes Annie easy to root for. Her orphan companions, especially Molly (Jade Smith), are fiendishly adorable. Both Daddy Warbucks (Christopher Swan) and Rooster (Jeffrey T. Kelly) also give standout performances and showcase impressive vocals, but the most entertaining of them all is the delightfully dour Miss Hannigan (Stefanie Londino).

She lends such world-weary pathos to the portrayal of the miserly old maid that by the end of her solo, “Little Girls”, the whole theater audience of moms was ready to ride into battle for her. It’s so much more fun to watch a villain that could be yourself on a bad day than it is to watch a caricature, and it was easy to see that she has fun playing it, too – underneath all the misery on the surface.

Watching Annie as an adult is a more darkly humorous experience than you might expect. The title character’s bright optimism seems hopelessly naïve, and President FDR features much more prominently than I’d remembered.

Most of all, the conceit of the main plot – Warbucks’ staff bring him an orphan to mentor for two weeks before Christmas – seems more like a cruel Youtuber stunt than the setup for a heartwarming family tale. But, just like a Depression-era radio soap opera, the melodramatics coalesce into a rewarding message about perseverance and found family. It’s enough to keep you humming about “Tomorrow” for weeks.

The Saenger Theater's Broadway in New Orleans season continues in May with Mrs Doubtfire

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