A Review

Bet Your Bottom Dollar

By R. J. Donovan

Leapin' Lizards, little Miss No Pupils is back!

As we approach the 30th anniversary of "Annie," the popular musical is celebrating with a national tour making a stop at The Opera House through June 25.

By now the story is legend. Straight from the Funny Pages, 11 year-old Annie's stuck in a seedy New York orphanage where she's persecuted by Miss Hannigan, the grumpy, boozing administrator. Annie decides to run away in search of her real parents, who she knows are out there somewhere. In her travels, she comes upon an abandoned mutt (Sandy) who she saves from the pound. Eventually, the police catch up with her and send her straight back to the clutches of Hannigan.

Back at the orphanage, an invitation comes in from bazillionaire Oliver Warbucks, who'd like to have a lucky orphan spend Christmas at his Fifth Avenue mansion. Annie is selected, Warbucks falls in love with her, and an adoption seems eminent. However, Annie is still convinced that her real parents will someday return to the orphanage to retrieve her. So Warbucks puts aside his own feelings and stages a national search for her long-lost folk, offering a $50,000 reward for information.

All of which intrigues Hannigan's slimy brother, Rooster, who, with his cheesy gal pal, schemes to impersonate the missing parents, abscond with the cash and "dispose" of little Annie (gasp!).

Will Annie find her parents? Will Warbucks be duped into turning his curly-topped moppet over to the bad guys? And what of Sandy (arf-arf!).

Along the way, there's plenty of social commentary for the parents in the house. Even President Roosevelt makes an appearance to pull the country out of its financial slump. And by the final curtain, a happy ending is guaranteed, with everyone getting exactly what they deserve for Christmas.

Annie is played by Marissa O'Donnell (above) who's blessed with a strong singing voice and the optimism and resourcefulness essential for our little heroine. Whether yearning for parental love in "Maybe" or pounding out her anthem of "Tomorrow," she fills the spotlight sweetly, but not overly so.

One of the best elements of the production is the company of orphans. They're a bright bunch, sing their hearts out, and dance up a storm. Of special note is Amanda Balon as Molly, the littlest orphan, who always winds up in the middle of the mayhem.

Conrad John Schuck (above) is Warbucks, and according to the program notes, he's been playing the role for the past 30 years in one way or another. He made his Broadway debut replacing the original Warbucks (Reid Shelton) in 1979. Interestingly, Schuck's first Annie was Sarah Jessica Parker, long before she would conquer "Sex and the City" and become Mrs. Matthew Broderick.

To be singled out is Allan Baker as F.D.R. The scene at The White House with Annie, Warbucks, the President and his advisors is bright, sharp and very funny.

In the role of Hannigan, Alene Robertson has the frumpy look and throaty sound for the role. But while the authors (Charles Strouse, Thomas Meehan and Martin Charnin) have provided a goldmine of funny material for the character, Robertson sometimes fails to hit the home run that's built into the script.

And speaking of Charnin, it's frustrating that, in his direction of the production, he often has the company playing the material as though they were in a much smaller theater. The "Boylan Sisters" sequence is a good example of gestures and stage business not being projected to anyone past the eighth row.

But in the end, it's all about the kids in the audience -- who care very little about stagecraft. Most of them had seen the movie version so many times, they knew the dialogue and songs by heart. The little girl sitting directly behind me was animatedly describing when and how Sandy would make his canine appearance (about 30 minutes before he actually did). And when he reared his shaggy head, she was positively enthralled.

So as long as there are moppets to be entertained, a production of "Annie" will be only a day away.

"Annie" is at at The Opera House through June 25. For information, call Ticketmaster at 617-931-2787.

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