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The Glories of ANNIE (really)

Posted by:	NewtonUK 10:35 am EST 11/22/13

This is not a rant, relax. Just get past the second paragraph. It's a love letter. After resisting for aeons, I finally dropped in on James Lapine's production of ANNIE last night. Yes, Mr. Lapine's production has huge problems - incomprehensible orphans (from the same farm as the Matilda kids - I guess A Christmas Story got all the intelligible ones?). unfocused, nonthreatening Miss Hannigan and Rooster, a clunky unattractive set, and pedestrian and forgettable choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler. The end of ANNIE has always been a rush to curtain call, and Mr Lapine only has made this worse, and the finale seems a total mess. But ANNIE. On Broadway. A score that sounds like Broadway. Nice comfy Broadway lyrics - not Sondheim or Porter or Gershwin - just comfy. And tunes that stick in your head - forever. And a book that tells a nice little story well, with virtually no fat at all. Its a Broadway musical theatre machine - tunes, heart, structure. What a joy. We don't need a LOUD electronic band, we don't need gym-going not an ounce of cellulite gypsies hopping about and sweating frantically wall to wall - this show doesnt have to scream at us. It can just be Broadway. Good story, some good characters, melodies, a bit of dancing, a bit of singing, a lot of charm. So, despite the production's well advertised shortcomings - and there are plenty - it was a great night on Broadway for me.

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