Powerful Voices + Strong Dancers = Brilliant Annie

Reviewed by Mary Alderson

“Betcha they’re good, Why shouldn’t they be?” Annie sings this line in the song “Maybe”. An orphan, she is sadly longing for the parents she never knew.

But that same line could apply to the production of Annie, which just opened at the Stratford Festival. The cast is very good and why shouldn’t they be?

There are two teams of amazing dancers: the group of young orphan girls, and the adult dancers we are used to seeing in Stratford musicals. Both teams of dancers are thanks to the vision of Director-Choreographer Donna Feore. The entire show is well cast with no weak links.

Feore has built her reputation on fast dancing feet and soaring voices. Last year’s Something Rotten was a testament to her success, and this year’s Annie will be known for the same qualities. The audience is spellbound throughout the show.

Annie is, of course, the old story of Little Orphan Annie, based on the cartoon strip. It’s set in the 1930s with Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) as the American President in the Great Depression. Annie lives with eight other little girls in a run-down New York City orphanage run by the evil Miss Hannigan, who hates little girls and drinks to drown her sorrows. (Note: In addition, there are two girls listed as understudies.)

Also in New York City lives Oliver Warbucks, a billionaire, whose demanding business life is organized by his employee Grace Farrell. Grace decides to bring home an orphan to celebrate Christmas in Mr. Warbucks’ home. Annie comes to their Christmas celebration and is given a new wardrobe. But what she really wants is to find her parents, who left a note at the orphanage to say they’d be back for her. Warbucks vows to locate them and calls on the FBI. Are Annie’s parents found?  No spoilers, you need to see the show.

Harper Rae Asch is perfect as Annie. Her singing voice is amazingly powerful for one so young and her acting is very professional. Her rendition of “Maybe” will bring a tear to your eye. You will chuckle at the look on her face when she’s accused of being a drunk and a liar.

The eight little girls in the dance numbers are all excellent, some performing seemingly impossible acrobatics. Early in the evening on opening night, their energetic performance of “Hard Knock Life” earned them a show-stopping standing ovation.

The adult dancers, too, perform unbelievable tricks during their dance numbers. Furniture is used to propel them into the air. They slide down bannisters at break-neck speeds. Dancers twirl and flip faster than your eye can keep up.

Laura Condlln is a hilarious and hated Miss Hannigan. She takes refuge in her flask, enjoying a gulp regularly while deriding her young wards. Her brother Rooster is perfectly played by Mark Uhre, while Amanda Lundgren is a delight as Rooster’s girlfriend, Lily St. Regis. The three of them dancing though “Easy Street” is great comedy.

Dan Chameroy as Oliver Warbucks goes from the tough, rich businessman, then mellows as Annie’s caregiver. Chameroy takes the audience on that journey, offering humour along the way. Jennifer Rider-Shaw is lovely as Grace Farrell. She, too, softens visibly as she gets to know Annie. Rider-Shaw’s soprano voice is a pleasure to hear.

Steve Patterson has fun with the role of FDR, and Henry Firmston garners laughs as Bert Healy, the radio announcer. Jamie Murray as the Star-To-Be offers a special moment. The rest of the cast is amazing, whether they be New Yorkers out and about, servants in the Warbucks household, or street dwellers in Hooverville.

I would be remiss if I missed one more cast member: Clue is excellent in the role of Sandy. Clue is a Foxhound-Poodle mix who was right on cue on opening night. He even received a chorus of “awwwwws” for putting a gentle paw in Annie’s lap. Clue shares the part with his best friend Uno, a Border Collie-Australian Shepherd cross.

The fast action and astounding dance numbers are Feore’s trademark. If you were impressed by the feats of footwork in last season’s Something Rotten, then you will enjoy this season’s Annie.

This is the year of the red-headed orphan at Stratford Festival. Annie has certainly hit the mark, and later this week we will see if Anne of Green Gables does, too.

 Annie continues in repertory until November 2 at the Festival Theatre, Stratford. Tickets are available at the Stratford Festival at 1-800-567-1600, or check www.stratfordfestival.ca

 Photo: From front-left: Jennifer Rider Shaw as Grace Farrell, Harper Rae Asch as Annie and Dan Chameroy as Oliver Warbucks with members of the company in Annie. Stratford Festival 2025. Photo by David Hou.

 Annie
Book by Thomas Meehan
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Directed by Donna Feore
Choreography by Donna Feore
Musical Direction by Laura Burton
Performed Harper Rae Asch, Dan Chameroy, Laura Condlln, Amanda Lundgren, Jennifer Rider-Shaw, Mark Uhre, et al.
Festival Theatre, Stratford
April 19 to November 2, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Alderson