Tornado Times, September 30, 2003

Only a Day Away

by Marilyn Torres--Staff Writer

In the role of Annie, Emma Degerstedt is simply sensational.  The girl can act, sing, and win over the hearts of a full theater in just under three hours.  Of course, she sang "Tomorrow" to perfection, just like she did "Maybe" and every other song she lends her voice to in this production.

But I am happy to report that it isn't just her spectacular voice that got her the part of Annie:  the kid has phenomenal stage presence.,

There is just something about kid shows in theater.  The more kids you get in a cast, the more proud family members you get in the seats.  Lucky for audiences, the "Annie" production makes excellent entertainment sense, judging from the packed house on the night of the 19th, and the standing ovation at the final bow.

Reviewers are usually more tolerant while sitting through kids shows because, face it, they are kids.  They cannot be expected to have adult-like presence.  Not to mention that with productions of "Annie," too many directors spend so much time looking for the perfect 'Annie' that the rest of the kids seem lackluster next to her.

They are bound to forget their lines or mess up their blocking or forget their choreography, making the whole bunch look cutely confused.  That is what this reviewer expected to see.

These kids rocked the house.  Not one of them forgot a thing.  Not one of them looked awkward or panned the audience looking for a family member.  Not one of them forgot that they were orphans with a job to do.  Oh!  And the adults were pretty good, too.

 We all know the story.  In depression-era New York, little orphan Annie and her orphan friends slave away at Miss Hannigan's orphanage waiting for the day their parents will come to reclaim them.

For those whose parents cannot, they await the day when some nice couple will come in and choose them as their own.

Lucky for Annie, billionaire Oliver Warbucks sends his secretary to the orphanage to get a child to spend the holidays with him in his mansion, and she manages to make herself the chosen child.

The eight girls who play the orphans are Kelsey Carthew, Amy Druumond, Abigail Hummel, Alex McElwain, Jessica Plowden, Mary Treinen, Megan Weiss, and Jessica Yuan.  Standouts from this list are Hummel as the worried Tessie, Plowden as the mean-spirited Pepper, and Treinen as the impish Molly.

These girls' talent is showcased nicely by a script that gives them more central focus than the rest.  Especially impressive was their singing abilities, as shown in the show-stopping "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile."

With Leslie Waltzer, along with Lee Briggs as co-producers and Susan Kussman as director, they put together an outstanding company to make it happen.  Dana McElwain stepped up as musical director, Brendan Kussman signed on a stage director, Jon Howie took on the role of choral director and Cassandra Daurden choreographer.

All members of the orchestra and all actors and actresses volunteered for the show.  Their combined years of talent and theater experience made it happen-and made it happen big time.

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