By LeAnna Hamblin
Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, is the timeless story of a young orphan girl who is continually searching for her parents and is currently showing at the Hopebox Theater in Kaysville. The only clue to their identity is the precious locket that Annie wears and the well-read note that she always keeps in her pocket. Hopebox Theatre brings the story to life onstage, but through her clever set design, Erica Choffel pays tribute to the original inspiration: the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip.
A show that is primarily based on the story of a young orphan girl, one expects to have a lively group of orphans in the cast. Director Carol Madsen gathers a remarkable young cast to feature as orphans in this production. The orphan girls in this show are full of positive energy and bring an infectious light and joy to the stage. Avrie Prows, who plays Annie in this cast (Halle Heywood – double), has an effortless and clear singing voice. Prows brings the perfect balance of sass and sympathy to this role. The other orphans look up to her for her brave spirit and motherly tendencies, showing no jealousy or remorse when Annie is chosen to leave the orphanage. Karissa Wootton, who plays , the youngest orphan Molly is a budding star. Her discipline and recollection of what she has rehearsed is remarkable for one so young.
Alyn Bone (Amy Turner – double) shows off her strong personality in the role of Miss Hannigan. Bone brings to life the character that every Annie fan loves to hate. Her jealousy of Annie is apparent, especially after she can’t stop Annie from leaving. Bone’s best acting comes during “Easy Street” when Hannigan is able to let loose with her brother Rooster (Matt Taylor, Mark Parnell – double) and Rooster’s love interest, Lily St. Regis (Brittany Paskett, Jessica Andrus – double), as they come up with a plan to get Annie and the reward money being offered to anyone who can prove they are Annie’s parents. Bone, Taylor, and Paskett all bring great energy to this number, and choreographer Kimi Christensen flawlessly brings out the personalities of all three characters.
Jeff Parry (Oliver Warbucks, Justin Lee – double) and Becca Rhodes (Grace, Allison Butler – double) are the perfect combination of strength and gentleness, both in their acting and their appearance. The gentle kindness that Rhodes brings to her role leaves the audience yearning for a “Grace” in their lives to care for and defend them when the need should arise. Parry’s strength and protectiveness is reminiscent of a protective father. Both Warbucks and Grace rely on their parental instinct, which grows as Annie becomes more a part of their lives, to protect Annie and keep her safe in their care. This can only be accomplished with the help of a greater power. Enter President Franklin D. Roosevelt, played by Paul Nielson.
As Roosevelt meets and gets to know Annie, he begins to more clearly see the importance of a positive outlook on life. He gathers his staff to listen to and sing with Annie as she shares her inspirational song, the iconic “Tomorrow.” Roosevelt orders his staff to sing along with Annie so that they might feel of her optimism. Music director Katie Frandsen should be proud of the tight harmonies that are achieved during the a capella portion of this song.
The cast is nicely filled in with a strong adult ensemble who all play multiple roles. Costumer Christiane Telford does an outstanding job making sure the costumes fit the time period and social status of the characters. Costuming everyone from orphans to a billionaire and everything in between is a task that Telford beautifully accomplishes.
The Hopebox Theatre occupies a building that is a garden center turned church turned theater. As such, the space that they have is quite unique. Choffel did an amazing job using her resources and turning one set piece into another by having the pieces maneuvered and stacked into different shapes and items, like desks and potted plants that one would typically see carted on and off stage during scene changes. Stage Managers Drew Anderson and Lindsie Mooney seamlessly choreographed the scene changes and made the show run very smoothly.
The mission of Hopebox Theatre is to bring hope and healing to victims of cancer and their families through the performing arts. Producer, theater owner, and four-time cancer survivor Jan Williams ensures that each production done at Hopebox Theatre benefits someone who has suffered or is suffering from the effects of cancer. The Wall of Hope recipient of Annie is Kenna Goodman. a young mother of two suffering from a cancerous brain tumor. For the first time, this production is also dedicated to an honorary Wall of Hope recipient Kim Madsen, a former director, singer, and dancer who passed away in 2009, and who is closely connected to several of the performers and production staff of Annie.
Annie is a family favorite and is the perfect Christmas show to bring warmth and love into the hearts of those in the audience. Come enjoy an evening of lively little girls and festive song and dance while supporting a well-deserving cause.
Hopebox Theatre presents Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin
Hopebox Theatre, 1700 Frontage Rd, Kaysville, UT 84037
December 6-22,2018 Monday, Friday- Saturday; Wednesday December 19, 7:30 PM; Matinee performances, Saturday, December 15, 22, 2:00 PM
Tickets: $10-$15
Contact: 801-451-5259
Hopebox Theatre Facebook Page
Annie Facebook Event
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