Who'd have thought a 1977 Broadway musical set in the Depression would have such relevance today?
And yet, "Annie," playing through July 24 at the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, couldn't feel more timely.
The feel-good musical is about an optimistic orphan (played by Thandie Van Wesenbeeck) who falls into the lap of luxury when the country's richest man – billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Corey D. Winfield) – "adopts" the foundling for Christmas.
"The sun will come out tomorrow," Annie always says. "Tomorrow's always a day away."
By the end of the play, when President Roosevelt (Joe Hart) announces "A New Deal for Christmas," the line becomes, "Tomorrow's just a day away."
Such optimism.
It worked in Roosevelt's day – at least initially – with jobs programs, including the WPA, for the unemployed; the implementation of Social Security; and other efforts, including introduction of the FDIC and FHA.
Today, with America struggling against recession, the country seems not so optimistic. There are forces in the government opposed, now as then, to certain efforts to stimulate the economy but, it appears, no leader with the resolve of an FDR to forge ahead.
That's the darker underpinning director Bob Irvin refuses to ignore in staging this otherwise chipper musical.
"Hard Knock Life," sung by Annie and the Orphans (Julia Hixon, Rebecca Rasmussen, Elana Sogard, Bridgette Nocito, Juliet Perry and Kimberlee Hanley), is a taste of reality. "Hooverville," sung by the company, is a sarcastic political tune revealing genuine emotion. And "Easy Street," by orphanage manager Miss Hannigan (Cheryl Watson), her brother Rooster (Jonathan Blum) and his girlfriend (Karen Bombardier), is a scheme to sample better times.
Irvin's unconventional approach lends substance to a play that could be – and often is – saccharine. No, the sweetness here is real.
Irvin starts with the great advantage of van Wesenbeeck in the title role. She is poised, sings well and brings such undeniable charm to the role that an old moneybags like Warbucks couldn't possibly resist her. It's to Winfield's credit that he holds his own opposite her and makes convincing his relationship to the young girl and to his assistant, Grace Farrell (played by Brianne Hidden).
Syrah, who plays Sandy, is one well-mannered dog.
As Bert Healy, Barnie Warrick sings in an authentic '30s vocal style, and Raymond Keller as Fred McCracken is irritating as only a man with a dummy on the radio can be.
One particularly effective scene, "NYC," is a love song to the city. It is smartly choreographed by Sunny Smith and augmented with large cutout figures of such landmarks as the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building and others (set design by Bob Musser).
The scene's dazzling.
Like just about everything about this show.
ANNIE
3 1/2 stars
What: A Fair Oaks Theatre Festival production
When: 8:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, through July 24
Where: Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre, 7991 California Ave., Fair Oaks
Time: Approximately 2 1/2 hours, including intermission
Cost: $15 general, $13 students, seniors and SARTA members, $8 ages 12 and younger on Friday-Saturday; $10 general, $5 children on Sundays
Information: (916) 966-3683
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Call The Bee's Jim Carnes, (916) 321-1130.
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