You won't leave 'Annie' without a smile

TNT's 'Annie' is filled with great music, singing and acting.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES -- Trumbull New Theatre's delightful production of the feel-good musical "Annie" puts a smile on your face and in your heart.
"Annie," which opened Friday night, has a large cast filled with cute and talented kids. It's led by the gifted 11-year-old singer and actress Emily Nader Schrader playing the orphan girl Annie, who, by the way, is also 11.
Emily is on the money notewise, and her vibrant voice is easily heard and enjoyed throughout the theater. Her ability to portray emotions, both happy and sad, are beyond her years.
Not to be upstaged by the children, the adult players are strong character actors and singers who bring flair and experience to their roles.
Leading the way are Lynda Gaug as the nasty Miss Hannigan, head of the orphanage, and Tom Gent as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.
Gent, a solid singer and actor, is convincing as Warbucks, the billionaire industrialist who invites Annie into his home for two weeks during the Christmas season and finds himself wanting to adopt the little girl.
What it's about
The story, set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, is about Annie's search for her parents, who left her at the orphanage shortly after her birth. Warbucks offers $50,000 to anyone who can prove they are Annie's parents.
Gaug is hilarious as the booze-swilling, man-chasing orphanage director, who joins in a scheme with her con-man brother, Rooster Hannigan, and his ditzy girlfriend, Lily St. Regis, ably played by Timothy Burke and Laura Barba, to claim the $50,000. Their rendition of "Easy Street" was one of the highlights of the show.
Annie and the orphans of the New York Municipal Orphanage kick-start the play with "It's the Hard-Knock Life," and Emily nails the musical's best-known song, the optimistic "Tomorrow."
Community theater is often a family affair, with parents and children participating together.
Such is the case in TNT's "Annie," with Garry and Johnna Clark of Youngstown, and their three daughters, Susanna, Tabitha and Rebecca. Garry does a nice job in a strong supporting role as Warbucks' butler and Johnna plays one of Warbucks' household staff.
Their daughters are members of the children's ensemble.
The audience showed its appreciation and approval of the production with a standing ovation.
alcorn@vindy.com