Annie at the Country Theatre Workshop

Annie is a musical of the saucered-eyed orphan based on a 100 year-old daily comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The comic strip by Harold Gray inspired writer Thomas Meehan, lyricist Martin Charnin and composer Charles Strouse to develop the Broadway musical based on an original story. Their production was awarded seven Tony Awards including for Best Musical. Among its popular numbers are Tomorrow and Fully Dressed. The musical opened pre-Broadway in 1976 at the Goodspeed Opera House in Haddam, Connecticut. The 1977 Broadway opening was at the Alvin Theatre now known as the Neil Simon Theatre.

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The original comic strip inspired radio shows and film adaptations. The Broadway musical has also inspired television adaptations and recordings. But what does the story of a pre-teen orphan girl living in New York City 91 years ago have to say to us today? The tension in the play between the billionaire industrialist Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks and President Franklin D. Roosevelt doesn't seem to have the punch it might have had during the time period it is set in: 1933, during the Great Depression. Nor does it resonate to a country 48 years ago, for the musical, pondering decline as the post-Vietnam and post-Watergate America entered a period of malaise.

London Clark (L) as Annie, Kena Clark (C)
 as the evil Miss Hannigan, and
Director Marsha Hall (R). Photo: Patrick Boylan

Still the story of hope and optimism embodied by Annie is present in this production.
Here's why: on the night I saw the production 17 year-old lead London Clark was celebrating being adopted from Russia. Opening night was also her 14th adoption anniversary. Sharing the stage with her was her mother, Kena Clark. Kena was cast as the villainous Miss Hannigan. In the play Hannigan plots to make the life of Annie miserable and even plots her murder.
Wow! If you can't take material like that and turn it into gold...
Under the direction of Marsha Hall the very young cast shone and glittered.
Hard Knock Life is the second number and was performed by "The Orphans". This ensemble was 14 girls, London being the eldest and the youngest being four! They struggled through Hard Knock Life before finding their voice. After that, the girls never looked back, they found their confidence before the packed crowd and let loose.

Homeless in New York City.

So what is Country Theatre Workshop? Unlike nearly every other theatre company on my list, it is not associated geographically or organizationally with a college or university. Sitting at 49 miles from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the small rural community of Cissna Park, population less than 800, seems an unlikely community to have a successful community theatre company. Yet the CTW has survived and grown since it was founded in 1982.
The venue itself served a dinner theater role at one time and the seating setup by tables reflects that history. That led to some poor sight lines as the flat floors and the lack of stage elevation made it sometimes difficult, due in no small part to the tall man sitting between the stage and I, from seeing the whole stage.
The community came out to see this performance, packing the venue. Granted that having 15 young actors (we can't ignore Sandy, played by Dylan Judy) will bring entire families in support. I suspect the community support for this group is robust.
Access to the theatre is well designed for those with physical limitations, as you'd expect in a dinner theatre where serving and then cleaning tables is a key operational need.
Costuming was very good and the venue's sound and lighting is exceptional.

Brian Zecher (L) as "Daddy" Warbucks, London 
Clark (R) as Annie.

My date, the costumer, and I disagreed about the need for a live band. I find that even a small band adds so much. While she pointed out that working with such a young cast simplified the need for the youth to learn the music. The choreography of a musical is always important, of course, and I was enjoying the young cast do their Rockette-style kick choreography. The stage is large enough for this large cast and the blocking was well thought out with no issues.
Does the show hold up from a 100 year-old commic strip and a 48 year-old musical? Yes. The political commentary is dated and feels odd in the age of Trump. However the theme of optimism, searching for lost family, and finding a tribe of your own still resonates. It is very approachable to young adult readers exposed to such offerings as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games.

Some of the young cast of Annie with London 
Clark (C) as the eponymous character.

Annie written by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charnin and composed by Charles Strouse.

Based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray. The comic strip inspired by the poem Little Orphan Annie by James Whitcomb Riley.

First performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in Haddam, Connecticut, August 1976.

Broadway opening at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre), April 1977.

Country Theatre Workshop,

1280 E 770 North Road, Cissna Park, IL 60924. (49 miles from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts).

Social media:

https://www.countrytheatre.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CountryTheatre

Tickets: $15.

Directed by Marsha Hall.

Through June 30.

Reviewed by: Patrick Boylan.

Photos and illustrations credit Country Theatre Workshop unless noted.