This musical first took the stage on Broadway in 1977. Annie has since become a classic and has evolved over the years into a feel-good production. Of course, something like this can always go wrong. That is certainly not the case here.
Backstage Producties presents a gem, everything is right: a top-notch cast, music, sets, costumes, choreography. Elements that individually meld together into a heart-winning whole. A production that takes the audience back to the bustling New York of the 1930s with a sober yet ingenious set design. What is also so nice: it is an intergenerational performance in which young and old excel.
The opening of the performance is playful and immediately sets the tone: a bunch of children dressed in rags come noisily walking into the auditorium and unabashedly crawl under the curtain. As the curtain rises you find yourself in the gloomy dormitory of an orphanage.
Director Jaak Lema knew how to direct everything correctly: what is sour and what is sweet, the sad sight of poverty next to the exuberantly colorful interior of magnate Oliver Warbucks, quiet moments next to dynamic ones, stinginess versus generosity. There is nice variety with group singing, only the children or the ensemble, some men or women and then of course the beautiful solos.
The psychological portraits are strongly drawn: there is the mean directress of the orphanage, Miss Hannigan, who all too gladly sees the bottle, fantastically portrayed by Tine Embrechts. No subtle humoristic fraying, but also not overdone. It is dancing on a slack rope but she remains perfectly balanced. She nails the portrayal of the drunken directress, she remains elegant but then the slovenly version. Constantly under the influence, in a slight haze, she walks unsteadily on her feet. A disillusioned woman and heartless wretch. In her life there is little room for warmth or affection. Her only diversion is listening to romantic radio dramas. Tine Embrechts commands the scene. Her portrayal is hilarious, her singing and dancing impressive.
The sweet Annie, charmingly portrayed by Elise Lagrou, is no coward but a daredevil. As a foundling she ended up in the orphanage run by Miss Hannigan. Luxury or warmth are hard to find. There is great camaraderie among the children. Their empathy, singing, dancing and joy of playing is heartwarming. Poverty is about so much more than not having money, no access to knowledge and school, other social classes… Annie wants to escape from Miss Hannigan's tyranny, with the help of her friends she manages to flee. She takes care of a stray dog. Her escape attempt and search for her parents fails. She is caught by a policeman and handed back to Miss Hannigan. But then the tide turns.
The secretary of Oliver Warbucks, Grace Farell, is looking for an orphan to spend the Christmas period with the wealthy businessman. He wants to share his wealth with someone who is less privileged. By chance Annie is in Miss Hannigan's office. A kind of instant sympathy develops between her and the secretary, given form in a gracious manner by Free Souffriau. The glamorous world she enters is completely new to Annie. She also experiences the security of warm and loving arms around her. Annie is disarming, not rancorous, but loving. Half a medallion and a newspaper clipping of her parents looking for her keep her going.
Gradually a special bond grows between the older man and Annie, especially because there are parallels with his own life. Risen from orphan to billionaire: the American dream. Amid all the bustle and turmoil, Lucas Van den Eynde with his deep, warm timbre provides calming moments. He wants to adopt her. Despite all the comfort Annie continues to dream of a reunion with her biological parents. She is helped in this in an altruistic way by Oliver Warbucks who offers a large reward to find them. Even the president of America, Roosevelt, is enlisted. The hypocritical facades and double morality of Miss Hannigan and her brother are torn down at the end. The young actress Elise Lagrou sings in perfect pitch and is all charm in the iconic numbers 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard-Knock Life'.
The actors sketch the characters and their nature sharply. All's well that ends well. This family musical… A must see.