From Orphans to Heiresses on Broadway
ANNIE Photo by Joan Marcus
By Barry Bassis
“Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking” (at the 47th Street Theater) is a treat for theater lovers. Gerard Alessandrini started THE HEIRESS Photo by Joan Marcus Writing novels and plays are different skills. repeatedly failed at the second. After his death, however, Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted his short novel, “Washington Square” into “The Heiress,” a successful play that is frequently revived and was made into Olivia de Havilland, the latest revival (at the
saving up during the show’s three-year hiatus. It makes no difference whether the targets
in “Porgy and Bess” or Bernadette Peters in “Follies”). As directed by Alessandrini and Phillip George, the four-member cast — Natalie Charlé Ellis, Scott Richard Foster, The humor is sometimes nasty but mostly very funny. “Forbidden Broadway” has
Kaufman, features a beautiful actress, Jessica Chastain, who is made to appear plain. The title character, Catherine Sloper, is rather withdrawn because her oppressive father resents the fact that his wife died giving birth to her. He constantly compares her unfavorably to her mother. The duality of his character is that, on one hand, he is a doctor dedicated to his patients while, on the other, he insults his daughter at every turn. David Strathairn portrays him as less malevolent than unaware of his destructive conduct. When a handsome stranger (Dan Stevens of “Downton Abbey”) appears and woos Catherine, the doctor correctly assumes that the young man is a fortune hunter. As the girl’s aunt, Lavinia Penniman, Judith Ivey steals every scene, giving a performance reminiscent of Billie Burke in movies like “Dinner at Eight.” In the central suggesting that there is a quiet intelligence at work. That quality comes to the fore in the and wins instant applause from the audience.
If you’re looking for a child-friendly show, you can’t do better than the current revival of “Annie,” directed by James Lapine (at the Palace Theatre). The 1976 adaptation of the comic strip, “Little Orphan Annie,” (book) with songs by Charles Strouse and famous piece but the score has a number of others, including the lively “It’s the HardKnock Life” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile.” “Annie” stars a self-assured 11-year old belter, Lilla Crawford, in the title role. She sings well, acts convincingly, with a tough New York accent, and can even dance. The other orphans are also a talented crew, with special praise for eight-year old Emily Rosenfeld. The villain is the man-hungry (an over-the-top Katie Finneran). Annie’s good luck is that she is taken in by the tycoon, Daddy Warbucks. He is played by a wonderful singing-actor, Anthony Warlow. In the course of the musical, they get to meet inspires him to create the New Deal. David Korins (the set designer) and Susan Hilferty (the costume designer) merit praise for their
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY ALIVE & KICKING Photo by Carol Rosegg
scruffy orphanage to the Warbucks mansion and the White House. I especially liked the fact that Sunny (the dog who plays Sandy)
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