Musical ‘Annie’ Delivers Timely Message Of Hope

In the musical "Annie", the American Great Depression of the 1930s is told through the wide eyes of an adorable 11-year-old red-haired orphan. On the surface it’s the feel-good tale of how a litle girl manages to find a better “Tomorrow” in spite of difficult circumstances, with the help of kind and generous benefactors. 

Scratch a little deeper though and it makes a rather bold statement about positivity and hope. Annie represents the eternal optimist; the ray of sunshine that cuts through and disinfects a world that's filled with dreariness and cynicism.

Thanks to popular stagings through the years, as well as translations on the big screen, Annie’s story is familiar to many Filipinos so there is little need for a refresher course on what it’s all about. 

The story may be decades old (it’s based on a comic strip first published in the 1920s), but the themes are timeless and ring true even today. 

With a cast that brings together the strongest names in Philippine theater and bright-eyed, bushy-tailed newcomers, RWM’s "Annie" is an easy crowd pleaser.

The spectacular sets deserve special mention, with high-tech digital graphics working seamlessly with traditional, physical sets to create Annie’s world in 1930s New York. Set changes, including Oliver Warbucks’ mansion and an evening stroll through the streets of the Big Apple, actually produced audible gasps of delight from the audience. The production clearly spared no expense and it showed. 

Krystal Brimner and Michael de Mesa are both only a day away if you buy tickets now. Photo: @RWManila (FB)

Sets could only carry a play so far, though. Thankfully, the cast was up to the task of communicating Annie’s story as faithfully, and as entertainingly as possible.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo continues her dazzling, incomparable ability to disappear completely into her role. This time, it was as the child-averse, alcoholic Miss Hannigan. Watching her is always a delight.

Michael De Mesa also delivers a commendable performance as Daddy Oliver Warbucks, as do Red Concepcion as the morally bent Rooster Hannigan and Jill Peña as the motherly Grace Farrell. 

In this production of Annie, the lead role is shared by two bright young theater talents. In the one I caught, Annie was played by relative newcomer Isabeli Araneta Elizalde (the other co-lead is Krystal Brimner).

It's twice as much fun with two leads—Isabeli Araneta Elizalde and Krystal Brimner alternate as Annie. Photo: @RWManilla (FB).

The pressure in essaying a role already considered a modern classic (theater superstar Lea Salonga famously inhabited the role in her youth) is immense, but to do so as your big theatrical debut—as Elizalde did—takes the burden to a whole new level.

But the 10-year-old was equal parts adorable and precocious, and possessed the necessary vocal chops to give justice to classic songs like “Tomorrow.” The audience witnessed the birth of a star. Of course, it didn’t hurt that she inherited the good looks of her parents, Juan and Bianca Araneta-Elizalde. 

In this day and age when it’s so easy to adopt a cynical view of the world, "Annie" is an honest-to-goodness breath of fresh air. It’s a timely reminder that, despite the hardships and bad news we encounter daily in our lives, it’s human to hope and trust that better days are up ahead. It may not seem like it sometimes, but yes, the sun will come out tomorrow. 

"Annie" is staged every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 4, 2016 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. Tickets are available at the RWM Box Office and TicketWorld outlets. For more information, visit rwmanila.com — AT, GMA News

Paul John Caña is a magazine writer and live music geek. Check out his blog manontheotherside.blogspot.com. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana