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MNfusion: Orpheum's Annie Is Classic, Comfortable

For theater lovers, seeing a classic show often feels like slipping into your favorite pajamas. It's cozy, homey and familiar.

While part of the fun of theater is experiencing an unknown story with new characters and songs, sometimes you just want to be comfortable enough to sing along.

The Orpheum's latest production, "Annie," gives audiences that perfect level of comfort.

The Broadway tour is well timed, coming off the December release of the film remake of "Annie."

Even audiences that aren't familiar with the 1982 film, the 1999 TV movie or the original show, will at least know a few of the songs thanks to the 2014 adaptation.

Annie the Musical
(credit: Joan Marcus)

Issie Swickle, a 9-year-old from Florida, made her debut as Annie, and she will definitely be one to watch.

At nine, she can already belt with the best of them.

However, while she has a strong soprano, there were times when she was very nasal. While the character of Annie lends itself to that, it often interfered with the flow of the song. Swickle allowed this to carry over into her speech too, which made it difficult to understand some of the lines. But she had a commanding stage presence and worked well with her fellow actors, both kids and adults.

At nine, if a nasal tone is all she has to worry about she is clearly on the right track. Not to mention doing way better than most would be able to at that age.

The other girls in the orphanage, Isabel Wallach, Lilly Mae Stewart, LillyBea Ireland, Angelina Carballo, Sydney Shuck and Adia Dant, did a great job of creating distinct characters apart from their group identity as orphans.

Annie the Musical
(credit: Joan Marcus)

Stewart was a wonderfully innocent and naïve Molly, Ireland stuck out as the ever-tired Tessie and Schuck's Kate was the bully of the bunch.

The well-known "Hard Knock Life" was brassy, boisterous and an audience favorite.

Lynn Andrews was a deliciously cruel Miss Hannigan and offered the perfect amount of physical humor that the rest of the show rather lacked.

Easy Street - Annie
(credit: Photo by Joan Marcus)

Unlike some productions, Andrews' didn't play up Hannigan's drinking. It is mentioned, but not terribly overdone. This was a wise choice as the opening night audience was made up of mostly families as, undoubtedly, the remainder of audiences will be as well.

The production also used a real dog for Sandy, which the audience loved.  It may be a naïve point of view, but it I was surprised that they chose to do so. However, Sunny, the 4-year-old terrier mix, was definitely a hit. The trainer did an excellent job, as did Swickle, of keeping Sunny's attention.

All in all, the show's pure message of companionship and love, combined with the catchy, bouncy songs wraps audiences up like a cozy blanket.

"Annie" is playing now through Sunday, April 5 at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets cost $29 - $99. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Hennepin Theatre Trust online.

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