By MARILYN JOZWIK
Hearing Franklin D. Roosevelt singing the eternally optimistic “Tomorrow” during the Great Depression is truly an uplifting moment in musical theater.
The song, of course, is the centerpiece of “Annie,” Sunset Playhouse’s latest offering. And while Annie, played by Jule Jordan Schloemer, sings a lovely version early on, it is Filippo Carini as FDR, seated in his wheelchair, centerstage, who delivers in a pivotal moment. Carini’s FDR encourages Cabinet members – and all in the audience (even Republicans!) – to join him in the upbeat anthem, breaking the fourth wall as he lends his own fine, robust baritone to the tune. There was something that transcended musical theater in that moment into a communal sense of optimism.
It epitomized the tone of the show, which, under the direction of Beth Burrows, has a heart beating with hope and humanity.
Erin Fricker as Grace Farrell, Jule Jordan Schloemer as Annie and Clinton Dodds as Oliver Warbucks star in Sunset Playhouse’s “Annie.” Photos by Katrina Smith
“Annie,” based on the 1924 comic strip “Little Orphan Annie,” is set in 1933 New York City, in the midst of The Great Depression. Its orphans are remindful of Dickens’ characters in “Oliver Twist” and “David Copperfield.”
At the orphanage, Annie and her 10 roommates are tormented by Miss Hannigan, who despises the girls and doesn’t waste any opportunity to insult, bully or put them to work. She is perhaps one of the most villainous of antagonists in theater, and Madison Nowak epitomizes her to a tee. With flask in hand and hair that looks like she just got out of bed, Nowak glowers over her charges and spits out her disdain in “Little Girls.” Her Hannigan is hilariously manic, teetering on the edge of a breakdown or worse.
Annie escapes from the orphanage, and finds herself in a Hooverville slum, where once- middle-class folks vent their frustrations with their current lot, blaming former president Hoover. Even there Annie displays her unwavering positive attitude. When a resident complains of using newspapers for blankets, Annie opines, “Then you can read in bed.”
Annie is returned to the orphanage by police, but luck is with her. Billionaire Oliver Warbucks’ assistant visits the orphanage while Annie is in Miss Hannigan’s office. She is looking for a youngster to spend the Christmas holidays in Warbucks’ opulent mansion.
Annie is chosen and life looks good until the slimy Rooster (Drew “Egypt J” Taylor) and his wife Lily (Shay Feiter) claim to be her parents in order to claim the huge check Warbucks is offering to find them.
The girls in the orphanage execute a snappy chorus line as they have fun mimicking “You’re Not Fully Dressed Without a Smile” from a popular radio show in a scene from Sunset Playhouse’s “Annie.” Photos by Katrina Smith
Warbucks decides he needs to call in favors from his pal, FDR, to ensure Annie has the Christmas of her dreams.
The opening night audience hooted and hollered its way through the tunes, from Annie’s opening “Maybe” to the “Tomorrow” finale.
This is a fine cast all around, topped by Schloemer’s Annie, Clinton Dodds as Warbucks and Erin Fricker as Warbucks’ assistant. Dodds is a commanding presence with a lovely tenor voice. He navigates the tender moments with subtle beauty in “Something Was Missing,” yet delivers a spirited “NYC” as he takes Annie for a night on the town.
There are no gaps in this talented cast, with many musical highlights thanks to the full sound of the seven-piece pit band under the direction of Riley Luettgen.
The cast of Sunset Playhouse’s “Annie.” Photos by Katrina Smith
I especially liked this version’s handling of the Cabinet meeting in which Annie’s can-do attitude infects FDR, as he and Cabinet members such as Harold Ickes (Josiah D Bender) and Cordell Hull (Eric Boldger) tackle the nation’s ills, from rampant unemployment to impending war. Rather than a throw-away humorous moment with sometimes off-key versions of “Tomorrow” by meeting attendees that I’ve seen in other shows, this group sings beautifully as the scene crescendos to its rousing finale, putting a cherry on top of Annie’s message inspiring FDR’s New Deal.
Choreography was simple and executed crisply. The orphan girls especially were a big hit with their “Hard Knock Life” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.”
The show breezed along with quick, clever set changes as costumed characters moved set pieces quietly to segue seamlessly to the next scene. I loved the clever use of golden ornaments the size of balance balls that Warbucks’ staff held to create an even more festive holiday scene.
If you go:
Who: Sunset Playhouse
What: “Annie”
When: Through Nov. 8
Where: 700 Wall St., Elm Grove
Tickets/Info: 262-782-4430; SunsetPlayhouse.com