Annie

We saw Annie at the Arizona Broadway Theatre last night and, as usual, enjoyed it. I can’t get over how this small, local dinner theater continues to improve with every show. Annie isn’t one of my favorite musicals, with “Tomorrow” the only song I knew. But the singing and dancing were again stellar, especially that of the eight orphans. The dog that played Sandy was delightfully professional; the girl that played Annie (Morgan Goldberg) was good but not great, without much of a voice; Miss Hannigan (Johanna Carlisle) was very good as the drunken head of the orphanage; Daddy Warbucks (David Simmons) was good, although he looked more like a 50-gallon drum than a Thirties billionaire. His was the most barrel-like of anyone I’d call barrel-chested. But the best feature of the production was the set design, especially the one in the Warbuck’s home—a New York skyline outside the window, a carpeted staircase, and an eight-foot lighted Christmas tree. We’re so lucky to have such a good venue for musical theatre here in the West Valley. Too bad more of our Sun City West neighbors don’t take advantage of it. Next up is Hello, Dolly in January.