'Annie' Leaves Audience Beaming With Joy

by Jessica Lynch

BOSTON -- It’s “Easy Street” for 4Cs alum Jeffrey Kelly, who played Rooster Hannigan in “Annie” Feb. 6-11 at the Wang Theatre.  His spectacular performance in the show proved he has a thriving career in theater ahead of him.

“Annie” is a classic Broadway show first brought to stage in 1977 at the Alvin Theatre (now The Neil Simon Theatre) in New York. It follows Annie, a red-headed orphan whose parents left her at an orphanage 11 years earlier, on her quest to find her parents. The orphanage is run by the tipsy and tyrannical Miss Hannigan, who has a particularly rotten opinion of Annie. Everything changes for Annie when Grace Farrell, an assistant to the rich and powerful Mr. Oliver Warbucks, comes to choose an orphan to join them for Christmas at the Warbucks mansion. After Miss Hannigan and her brother, Rooster, devise a plan most foul, Annie finds out who her true family is.

The stage production of “Annie” at the Wang was truly spectacular.

Rainier Trevino as Annie brought such passion to her role. Her songs perfectly captured the hope that “Annie” is built on.

Stefanie Londino perfectly played Miss Hannigan, a character people love to hate. As she stumbled around the stage, bottle of whiskey in hand, the crowd roared with laughter.

Jeffrey Kelly’s performance as Rooster Hannigan was equally fantastic. He played the villain perfectly and delivered his lines and songs with such conviction that when Mr. Warbucks put a stop to Rooster’s despicable plan, the crowd cheered. Kelly’s New York accent was so good you’d never guess he hails from the Cape.

Perhaps the best cast member of all was Seamus as Sandy the dog. The crowd erupted in affectionate cheers for the furry thespian. As the cast took their bows, the loudest cheers and claps came for Mr. Seamus.

Overall, the show was outstanding, full of hope, love and optimism in a time when the world needs it most. Now, the overcrowded car park after the show? That was the true “Hard-Knock Life” of the experience.

Starring in "Annie" at the Wang: from left, Stefanie Londino as Miss. Hannigan, Jeffrey T. Kelly as Rooster Hannigan and and Samantha Stevens as Lily. (Courtesy of the Boch Center)

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