Profile
Photos
Comments
Last
night 2,700 audience members at the Broward Center for the Performing
Arts in Fort Lauderdale welcomed one of their own, from near by Davie,
Florida, 9 year old Issie Swickle in the title role of the new touring
company of ”Annie”. She has the advantage of being directed by the
original director Martin Charnin, who also wrote the lyrics, with the
music by Charles Strouse,, who has made this a classic musical since it
first appeared on Broadway in 1977.
The young
actress is on stage most of the time and not only has to sing such
iconic songs as “Tomorrow”, “Maybe” but also interacts with 6 ‘orphans’ ,
20 adults and Sandy, the dog. While very confident working with the
other kids and Sandy, with less than a month in the role she is still
tentative with the adults but another month or two on the tour that
should change.
Lynn Andrews, as the mean Miss
Hannigan, has fun with her role and singing “Little Girls” and brings
down the house dancing and singing “Easy Street” with her conniving
brother Rooster, played by Garrett Deagon, and his girlfriend Lily
played by Lucy Werner.
Gilgamesh Taggett, as
Oliver ‘Daddy” Warbucks, is commanding on stage with a strong voice,
along with being gruff and tender when needed to be either. Cameron
Mitchell Bell as Bert Healy sells “You Are Never Fully Dressed Without A
Smile” while Allen Baker gets all his laughs playing President Franklin
D. Roosevelt. The ensemble, in various roles, all come through for the
show and the orphans played by Angelina Carballo, Adia Dant, LillyBea
Ireland, Sydney Shuck, Lilly Mae Stewart and Isabell Wallach dance and
sing as if they have been working together for years. Along with MIss
Swickle they get the show off to a rousing start with “It’s The Hard
Knock Life”.
The scenic design by Beowulf Boritt
is imposing and moves in, out and around smoothly. The thirteen piece
orchestra got off to a shaky start but recovered quickly.
Walking
up the aisle after the curtain calls you could hear “Tomorrow” being
sung, whistled and hummed by most of the audience and will be for days
to come. It is not a bad philosophy to have in your head in today’s
times!