Full cast on stage for Annie curtain call. Photo by Ellynne Brice Davis
La Plata, MD — Just in time for the Holiday season, a grand production of the Broadway musical, Annie opens November 28 at the Port Tobacco Theatre in La Plata.
With a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and material based on the Harold Gray comic strip, Little Orphan Annie (by permission of The Media Tribune Services, Inc.) this timeless classic musical makes the perfect choice to herald in a joyous holiday celebration.
The show runs through December 21 with the Port Tobacco Players (PTP), Inc.; performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. (with specially-added performances on Thursdays, Dec. 11 and 18 at 7:30 p.m.) You will want to be sure to order your tickets early. You may call (301) 932-6819 for reservations or contact www.ptplayers.org to purchase tickets online. (If you decide to make it an evening of “dinner and a show,” you may visit Red Oak Bistro or El Dorado and simply show your tickets for a discount!)
The Broadway version of Annie opened in 1977 and ran for almost six years, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical. The original cast included Andrea McArdle as “Annie” and Dorothy Loudon as “Miss Hannigan”. The subsequent movie starred Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan and Bernadette Peters as “Lily St. Regis.” Watch for the next Hollywood re-make, coming soon to a theater near you!
This lavish PTP production is probably one of the best examples of local musical theatre that you are likely see, and has most assuredly raised the bar for area community theatres regarding production standards. Strong acting, glorious singing and dancing, a shaggy dog, winsome orphans, and stunning costumes and sets make this the must-see event of the season.
Director Tessa Silvestro (who has previously directed a production of Annie for the Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park and is herself a veteran performing ANNIE orphan) credits ANNIE’s success to her production team which includes Producer Laurie Mudd, Music Director Will Derr, Choreographer Ben Simpson, and Stage Manager Jeff Clark, along with the design team and the cast – all of whom she earnestly praises in her directors’ notes found in the program for their collaboration in bringing this project to life.
A brass fanfare begins the Overture to Act I, which segues into “Tomorrow” and blossoms into the sound of the full off-stage orchestra. The story is set sometime in the 1930’s in the midst of the Great Depression; we are met with the cleverly-designed orphanage which depicts the girls nestled in bunk beds. Annie comforts her little friend Molly (played by a petite, scene-stealing Lucy Mudd) in “Maybe”, reinforcing her conviction that her parents will eventually return for her. Annie is thwarted in yet another of her escape attempts by the sudden entrance of Miss Hannigan, who runs the Orphanage. Once Miss Hannigan exits, prepare yourselves for the high decibel-level singing and energetic dancing rendition by this group of young girls (“It’s a Hard-Knock Life”). Their performance will knock you out! (Annie and Molly are miked throughout; the other girls are not).
Annie manages to escape (yet again) from the Orphanage in the laundry basket propelled by the amiable and unknowing Mr. Bundles (Dave Bayles). And if the show ended here, it would be a runaway hit based solely on the dynamite chorus of orphans: Chloe Lateulere as Duffy, Emily Winkler as Pepper, Kristen Ging as July, Elora Edwards as Kate, Katie Dolan as Tessie and Alyssa Bolton, Alaina Holland, and Annie Lockhart. But wait!…there’s more! We are next treated to the sentimental scene of Annie meeting the shaggy Sandy (Sunny Fernandes – a true scene-stealer in her own right; be sure to read her bio in the program notes) for the very first time (“Tomorrow”) which is guaranteed to bring a tear to everyone’s eye.
And the show would be considered a “hit” if it ended here; but there’s more, lots more…
The plot thickens as Annie and Sandy wander into Hooverville in search of her parents.
Meanwhile, back at the Orphanage, the tipsy, sultry-voiced Miss Hannigan (Amy Wathen Cooksey) sings “Little Girls”, making it crystal clear just exactly how she feels about running an Orphanage; Miss Cooksey’s ability to hold the final note of her songs with consistent vocal quality and volume is admirable!
And now we meet Grace Farrell (Annabelle Lowe, seen recently as Marian the Librarian in PTP’s The Music Man), who extends a too-good-to-be-true offer to Miss Hannigan from Oliver Warbucks who wishes to host an orphan at his mansion for Christmas. True it is, however, and with just a little bit of luck, and a great deal of wit and charm, Annie is selected as the lucky orphan.
A smooth, swift scene change reveals the impressive and elegant multi-tiered set of Oliver’s mansion, and Annie is welcomed by the staff with a song and lively choreography (“I Think I’m Going To Like It Here”). Kudos go to all the actors and actresses who negotiate the steep staircases throughout the evening!
Oliver Warbucks (Rick Wathen, seen recently as the Rabbi in PTP’s Fiddler On the Roof, displaying his strong singing and acting in this role) returns home from Chicago and is welcomed by the good-natured Mrs. Pugh (Janice Nash Sagers, in an engaging character role) and is introduced to Annie. Drake, the Butler (a personable and steadfast Matt Jones) brings winter coats for Annie, Grace, and Oliver who prepare to take a stroll through town (“NYC”) as the gorgeously-costumed chorus fills the stage. (Erin Carroll makes an enthusiastic appearance here as the “Star To Be”). As this scene comes to a close, we are given a brief glimpse of Sandy who has been separated from Annie since she was returned to the Orphanage after her laundry basket escapade
Oliver is so taken with Annie that he dispatches Grace to re-visit Miss Hannigan in order to draw up the paperwork and to make arrangements for adopting her. As Grace leaves the orphanage’s office, Miss Hannigan’s brother, Rooster (Patrick Wathen) and his girlfriend Lily St. Regis (Aimee Bonnet) enter. The trio of Miss Hannigan, Rooster, and Lily hatch a plan to put them all on “Easy Street.” Rooster’s singing and dance moves make this number a musical highlight, aided by Miss Bonnet‘s adorable and bubbly interpretation of Lily.
Back at the Warbucks mansion, Oliver reflects on how perfect his life has been (“Why Should I Change a Thing?”). He realizes that Annie would make his life complete, yet when he presents Annie with his offer of adoption she does not react with the enthusiasm he expected. And if Madelyn Mudd as Annie hadn’t already won your heart when she befriended Sandy, the little catch in her voice she employs here with Oliver certainly will do the trick.
Act I closes with Oliver reassuring Annie that her parents will be found (“You Won’t Be an Orphan For Long”) as the ringing high notes of Miss Lowe’s warm and resonant soprano are heard above the ensemble.
Act II opens with a brief orchestral overture onto the on-air radio broadcast with Bert Healy (Carlton Silvestro in a standout role who displays strong singing in “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”). Oliver Warbucks is given air time to announce his coast-to-coast search for Annie’s parents which boasts a 50-thousand-dollar reward. The broadcast features the delightful Boylan Sisters commercial (Erin Carroll, Amy Dolan, and Emmeline Jones) and a hilarious marionette act, which is then replicated by the orphans who are listening at home to the radio with Molly re-enacting a gleeful parody of the marionette sequence.
Rooster and Lily return to the Orphanage (somewhat incognito) in “disguise” as Annie’s parents in a reprise of “Easy Street”, joined by Miss Hannigan.
And now we are transported to the White House with Rick Thompson in an accomplished turn as FDR. Oliver and Annie are escorted into the office to discuss the search for her parents; Annie subsequently inspires the group with a reprise of “Tomorrow.” Mr. Thompson, relishing his presidential role, commands all to join in the singing which affords Trey Lockhart as Harold Ickes his own scene-stealing moment in the spotlight as “A New Deal” is conceptualized with lovely harmonizing.
Upon returning to the Warbucks Mansion, Annie learns of the hundreds of imposters who are trying to claim her, enticed by the promise of the 50-thousand-dollar reward. Oliver sings “Something Was Missing,” re-stating his offer of adoption; this time, she accepts.
And as the Mansion’s staff prepared for a celebration party, the festivities are interrupted by the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. “Mudge” (Rooster and Lily) offering seemingly airtight proof that they are Annie’s real parents. Annie is permitted to stay one last night with Oliver – it is Christmas Eve, after all – and the “Mudges” depart.
FDR is brought into the living room in his wheelchair for the now-cancelled celebration and Oliver once again elicits his help. With the dawn of Christmas morning, the President details the FBI’s irrefutable results on the search for Annie’s parents. Miss Hannigan and the orphans arrive for the Christmas party, soon followed by Mr. and Mrs. “Mudge.” The jig is finally up, and all is neatly, tunefully, and charmingly resolved with “A New Deal For Christmas.”
The directing is fast-paced throughout with speed-of-lightning set changes that occur seemingly by magic to move the story back and forth between the Orphanage, Hooverville, downtown NYC and the Warbucks Mansion. Ensemble numbers are splendidly staged so that the actors and the action completely fill the space with memorable tableaux-like photo-ops at the end of each song.
As Annie, effervescent young thespian Madelyn Mudd effectively displays a mature stage presence and securely holds her own alongside a cast of experienced lead actors Rick Wathen, Annabelle Lowe, and Amy Wathen Cooksey. Madelyn is a 7th-grader at Piccowaxen Middle School and has been acting since 2009 (seen at PTP as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Marta in The Sound of Music, Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof, and as Amaryllis in The Music Man).
The understated love story which transpires gradually during the course of the play between Oliver (Rick Wathen) and Grace(Annabelle Lowe) is handled with warmth and tenderness on the part of these two actors due to their considerable acting skills. The cast also features strong supporting actors, all of whom demonstrate nuanced interpretations – the audience will delight in noticing many of them who serve convincingly in multiple roles (including Austin Kuhn as Howe, Dave Bayles as Morganthau/Mr. Bundles, Trey Lockhart as Ickes, Amy Dolan as Perkins/a Boylan Sister, Carlton Silvestro as Hull/Bert, Erin Carroll as a Boylan Sister/Star To Be, Brandi Shorter as Mrs. Greer- as well as the talented ensemble of Kaitlin Branham, Selena Butler, Trey Jolly, Keith Linville, Desiree Proffitt, Danin Turner, and Alexandra Wohlenhaus).
The orchestra, under the direction of William V. Derr (who also plays the keyboard), includes James D. Watson (Piano), Ashley Brumberg, Michelle Bast, Laura Dunn, Kristen Miller and Sue Sweeney (Reeds), Bryan Smith and Dave James (Trumpets), Ridge Gilley and Dave Twyman (Trombones), Paul Hillard (Tuba), Matt Strain (Bass), Ted Michalek (Guitar), Tim Deloache (drums), Heidi Mickey and Grace Cumbee (Violins), and Lori Deloache (Cello).
At first, I was distracted to see some of the performers wearing “walking mikes” but as the story progressed I was able to ignore these devices (I sat in the second row). Audience members in rows further back will probably never ever notice the mikes. There were a few minor pitch problems with two or three of the solo singers in their initial offerings which were immediately self-corrected and which never re-occurred. The orphans were slightly ahead of the beat at the beginning of “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” (perhaps due to Press Night jitters!) but quickly adjusted and were precisely on the beat for the remainder of the song.
The noteworthy Production Staff is as follows:
Assistant Stage Manager William Righter, along with Nick Righter, Becky Elbert and Wyatt Edwards
Set Designers Tessa Silvestro and Ryan Mudd (who also served as Master Carpenter)
Set Designer Assistants Scott Larue, Chris Magee, Erika Maynard, Gary Maynard, Molly Mudd, Greg Pruitt, Rich Gilpin, Doug Wohlenhaus, Nicholas Wohlenhaus and Trey Lockhart
Set Painters Brandi Shorter, Chloe Lateulere, Madison Osakowicz, Dave Bayles, Jeff Clark, Janice Sagers, Shemika Berry, Amy Wathen Cooksey, Ali Wohlenhaus, Trey Lockhart, Betsy Stevens, Jill Hanger, the Mudd Family, the Edwards Family, and the Ging Girls
Mural Painter Gayle Kraus
Lighting Designer Tommy Scott
Light Board Operator Laurie Mudd
Sound Designer James D. Watson
Sound Design Assistants Annmarie Watson, Chris Cease and Jeff Humphries
Sound Board Operator Chris Cease
Announcer Ed Walker
Properties Manager Kim Moore Bessler
Set Decorators Amy Wathen Cooksey, Ryan Mudd and Rhonda Edwards
Costume Designer Quentin Nash Sagers
Costume Design Assistants Carol Russell, Mallory Haselberger, Tina Monk, Rhonda Edwards, Brenda Mudd, Melody Sciarratta, Kimberly Ball, Kim Haselberger, Joanne Fuesel, Kathy Wathen, Jenete St. Clair, Annabelle Lowe, Carol Charnock, Amy Wathen Cooksey, Janice Nash Sagers, Pat Brennan, Cathy Compton, Becki Turner, and Mindy Gilpin
Hair and MakeUp Designer Shemika Berry (a WATCH Award-winning Makeup Designer and Hair Design nominee)
Hair and Makeup Designer Assistants Jenn Branham and Cast
Dog Trainer Kevin Fernandes
House Managers Christine Lockhart, Sue Lateulere, and Jenny Walker
Program Designer David Standish
Photographers Laurie Mudd and Brooke Howells-Weiser
Cast/Crew T-Shirts by Positive Graphics of White Plains
…and all those whose names did not appear on the program.
The Port Tobacco Players is supported by grants from the Charles County Arts Alliance, the Maryland State Arts Council, and by the National Endowment for the Arts. Its Mission Statement: “The Port Tobacco Players, Inc. strives to entertain, educate, uplift, challenge, enlighten, and enrich audiences, volunteers and community by providing consistent quality productions at affordable prices”. Port Tobacco Players is proud to be a charter member of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (www.washingtontheater.org).
