[NEohioPAL]TRIBUNE REVIEW OF TNT'S "ANNIE" -- Sunday, September 12, 2004

Sun Sep 12 18:15:15 PDT 2004

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CAST SHINES IN 'ANNIE'

By PATTY KIMERER
Tribune Chronicle correpondent

    NILES -- Despite the erratic nature of the weather this past season, 
there's always one constant in the forecast: The sun will come out tomorrow. That 
is, if you attend the Trumbull New Theatre Inc.'s 273rd production, which 
happens to be a musical about arguably the most popular orphan in fiction.

    Friday night marked the debut of "Annie," the Tony-winning Broadway 
classic which spawned several movie incarnations. This production was based on the 
book by Thomas Meehan and set to music and lyricized by Charles Strouse and 
Martin Charnin, respectively. It is directed by Anita Philibin.

    A capacity crowd was on hand to take in the timeless tale of the 
ever-optimistic Annie, whose lifelong ambition is to be reunited with the parents who 
abandoned her as a baby in 1922 New York with only the clothes on her back and 
a half-locket around her neck.

    In the title role is St. Stephen School seventh-grader Emily Nader 
Schrader. Emily already has won several regional acting awards and tackled roles in 
area productions of "Children of Eden," "The Secret Garden", and "Les 
Miserables" to name a few.

    As she belted out the signature "Annie" number "Tomorrow" and led the 
company in the equally recognizable "Hard-Knock Life," Emily demonstrated why 
"Annie" is a role she was born to play.

    Her stage presence, whether warbling with the other children, cavorting 
with the well-behaved canine playing Annie's beloved pup Sandy or holding her 
own with the talented adults in the cast, is evident at all times.  This young 
lady doesn't just sing and dance well, the kid can act.

    And it isn't easy to retain an audience's attention when there are 
adorable preschoolers and lovable dogs frolicking about the stage but Emily did just 
that in the scenes she shared with the other orphans, particularly Elizabeth 
Philibin, who plays the littlest urchin, Molly.  With her big brown eyes, 
flowing chestnut hair and perfectly pouty expressiveness, Elizabeth is too cute 
for words as she prances about the stage.

    Although the setting jumps from the orphanage to the Warbucks mansion to 
the streets of New York City complete with faux skyline and back again, the 
crew made it easy for quick transitions in sheer darkness.

    One lady who missed nothing was Lynda Gaug, who played Miss Hannigan, the 
hateful orphanage worker whose selfishness and mistreatment of the girls is 
legendary.

    Gaug, a real-life counselor for Lakeview schools, is absolutely hilarious 
in her role. Her comic timing is impeccable as she swills from a flask, plots 
against the children and boogies about the stage with her equally-loathesome 
brother, Rooster, played nicely by Timothy Burke.

    Tom Gent, as billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, uses a singing voice 
that is soft and tender when appropriate and a real rafters-shaker at times, too.

    As Warbucks' ever-dutiful assistant Grace Farrell, Renee Johntony also 
provides soothing melodies.

    It's a big, bustling cast and crew that really seems like one huge family 
both on-stage and behind the scenes. And it's one of the few shows that's 
entirely appropriate -- and enjoyable -- for every member of your own family. 

    "Annie" runs at Trumbull New Theater in Niles for the next several 
weekends.  For more information, call the box office. 

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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D5>CAST SHINES IN 'ANNIE'</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D3></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D3>By PATTY KIMERER</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3>Tribune Chronicle correpondent</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft>   <FONT size=3D3> NILES -- Despite the err=
atic nature of the weather this past season, there's always one constant in=20=
the forecast: The sun will come out tomorrow. That is, if you attend the Tru=
mbull New Theatre Inc.'s 273rd production, which happens to be a musical abo=
ut arguably the most popular orphan in fiction.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3><STRONG>  </STRONG>  Friday=20=
night marked the debut of "Annie," the Tony-winning Broadway classic which s=
pawned several movie incarnations. This production was based on the book by=20=
Thomas Meehan and set to music and lyricized by Charles Strouse and Martin C=
harnin, respectively. It is directed by Anita Philibin.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft>    <FONT size=3D3>A capacity crowd was on=20=
hand to take in the timeless tale of the ever-optimistic Annie, whose lifelo=
ng ambition is to be reunited with the parents who abandoned her as a baby i=
n 1922 New York with only the clothes on her back and a half-locket around h=
er neck.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft>    <FONT size=3D3>In the title role is St.=
 Stephen School seventh-grader Emily Nader Schrader. Emily already has=20=
won several regional acting awards and tackled roles in area productions of=20=
"Children of Eden," "The Secret Garden", and "Les Miserables" to name a few.=
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    As she belted out the si=
gnature "Annie" number "Tomorrow" and led the company in the equally recogni=
zable "Hard-Knock Life," Emily demonstrated why "Annie" is a role she was bo=
rn to play.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    Her stage presence, whet=
her warbling with the other children, cavorting with the well-behaved canine=
 playing Annie's beloved pup Sandy or holding her own with the talented adul=
ts in the cast, is evident at all times.  This young lady doesn't just=20=
sing and dance well, the kid can act.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    And it isn't easy to ret=
ain an audience's attention when there are adorable preschoolers and lovable=
 dogs frolicking about the stage but Emily did just that in the scenes she s=
hared with the other orphans, particularly Elizabeth Philibin, who plays the=
 littlest urchin, Molly.  With her big brown eyes, flowing chestnut hai=
r and perfectly pouty expressiveness, Elizabeth is too cute for words as she=
 prances about the stage.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    Although the setting jum=
ps from the orphanage to the Warbucks mansion to the streets of New York Cit=
y complete with faux skyline and back again, the crew made it easy for quick=
 transitions in sheer darkness.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    One lady who missed noth=
ing was Lynda Gaug, who played Miss Hannigan, the hateful orphanage worker w=
hose selfishness and mistreatment of the girls is legendary.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    Gaug, a real-life counse=
lor for Lakeview schools, is absolutely hilarious in her role. Her comic tim=
ing is impeccable as she swills from a flask, plots against the children and=
 boogies about the stage with her equally-loathesome brother, Rooster, playe=
d nicely by Timothy Burke.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    Tom Gent, as billionaire=
 Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks, uses a singing voice that is soft and tender when=20=
appropriate and a real rafters-shaker at times, too.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    As Warbucks' ever-dutifu=
l assistant Grace Farrell, Renee Johntony also provides soothing melodies.</=
FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3>    It's a big, bustling cas=
t and crew that really seems like one huge family both on-stage and behind t=
he scenes. And it's one of the few shows that's entirely appropriate -- and=20=
enjoyable -- for every member of your own family.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT size=3D3><EM>    "Annie" runs at Trum=
bull New Theater in Niles for the next several weekends.  For more info=
rmation, call the box office. </EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft> </DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft> </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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