‘Annie’ serves as reminder of timelessness of America’s most beloved orphan; Fox Theater presentation offers a special holiday treat for young and old

By Michele Chase
Special to
America’s Seniors at www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

There is a strange staying power that makes and icon of even a little orphan girl from the comics with white circles for eyes, a staying power that defies any rationale.  That is unless you are sitting at The Fabulous Fox for yet another revival of the wonderful musical ‘Annie’. 

It seems hard to believe that Annie herself has been featured in comics, books, plays, movies and musicals, with the original musical production launching in 1977, when I was not much younger than my daughter, Taylor, who attended the show with me and is now a part of the latest generation of youngsters to fall under the captivating spell of the story of ‘Annie’.  And, she wasn’t alone, as the Fox was packed—rightfully so—with a large number of parents, grandparents and children. 

The Fox is a perfect setting for such a show, because productions such as ‘Annie’ meet one of the original visions that Fox Associates, at the direction of Leon and Mary Strauss, had when the venerable theater was saved from destruction—making sure that generations to come will become acquainted with the magic of the theater generally and this great St. Louis institution specifically.

The story is well-known, but still manages to captivate audiences with its uplifting spirit:  Take New York during the Depression, add a bit of Dickens with an Oliver Twist-type story line--11-year-old Annie is raised at a seedy Manhattan orphanage by the usually drunk overseer Miss Hannigan.  Annie believes that her parents, who left her as a at the orphanage, will come back for her. .

Annie is selected to spend two weeks at Christmas time with blustery billionaire Oliver (later known as Daddy) Warbucks.  And, guess what…although Warbucks is hardly the fathering type, he, like the rest of us, falls under the spell of Annie's positive spirit and exuberance, which even extends to help President Franklin Roosevelt revitalize his administration.

It takes a lot of elements to pull this show off.  The first, of course, is the suspend belief and just enjoy the show.  Having so many children present helps with that.   

Also, we were particularly impressed with the wonderful stage set, designed by Ming Cho Lee.  It provides a wonderful backdrop.

But most important are the characters themselves.  To play Annie or Warbucks or any of the other well-known and familiar characters has to be a major challenge because the fans of the show’s previous productions must always be tempted to compare the casts. 

Fortunately, the strength of this group enables it to not only hold its own, but to excel. 

Marissa O'Donnell brings a wonderful singing voice and inherent charm that makes her a natural as Annie.  She recognizes the importance of nuances of song delivery, and is a refreshing change from those who believe that ‘Tomorrow’ is not sung properly unless it is blared out.  Ms. O’Donnell avoids that temptation and the result is a more poignant rendering.

Daddy Warbucks is played by Conrad John Schuck, who shows why he has been an audience favorite in movies, TV and stage for more than 40 years.

He played Daddy Warbucks on Broadway and reprised the role in the recent Broadway revival, so this is a role he rightfully commands.  And, in keeping with the tone of the show, he presents a very real and sensitive transformation from blustering industrialist to proud adoptive father that endears him, I am sure to all the children in the audience who would like to have traded places with Annie just to have someone like Warbucks in their lives. 

Mackenzie Phillips  as Lily St. Regis adds to the quality of the performance with, like Ms. O’Donnell and Schuck, a fine-tuned, understated presentation of her character that reflects her vast skills and experience as an actress, and not upon overacting. 

And, therein lies the secret of the success of this production of ‘Annie.’ Quality performances, a wonderful chemistry among all the actors, and the magic of not only the show, but the special Holiday magic of being privileged to watch the show through the eyes of the many children who will always remember this grand evening at The Fabulous Fox.