Everything
but''A rf!"
b y Ja y Brow n
A n n i e , by Meehan, Strouse & Charnin.
Directed by Paul Douroumis. Musical Direc
tion by David Kelly. Choreography by Alex
Pepe. Set design by Brian Webb. Costumes
by Margaret Louise Heatherington. With
Katharine Moir, Sonny Sorrels, Karen Boet-
tcher-Tate, Jeff Ditzler, Hollie Weikel and
others. Portland Civic Theatre.
A nnie, based on the perennial comic strip
Little O rphan Annie, is the perfect kids show.
Mostly because it’s about an orphan who, by
luck and pluck, hitches up with the richest,
most powerful man in the world. It’s a fairy
tale which happens at Christmas, a time when
all wishes come true (at least in fairy tales).
A n n ie opens in the New York City Munici
pal Orphanage (Girls’ Annex), home to Annie
and ten other orphans and it is during this
scene that the play shows life. The orphans
perform the only show-stopping number in
the long two-acter. “It’s the Hard-knock Life”
is a marvel of singing and dancing by what is
probably the best young talent in Portland. All
of these kids are troupers, and one, little pig
tailed Hollie Weikel, is a knock-out Whenever
Hollie is onstage, it’s difficult to watch any
thing else that’s going on. W.C. Fields wouldn’t
have wanted her within a million miles of
himself.
The orphans do another short number in
the second act, a reprise of "You’re Never
Fully Dressed Without a Smile," which gives
another boost to an otherwise dull night
Miss Hannigan. Well, what can one say
about Miss Hannigan? She’s a booze-swilling
ogre. She’s mean, mean, mean! She hates
little girls. And she’s lifeless as a stick. Karen
Boettcher-Tate, who was marvelous as Muriel
in last year’s hit A Perfect Relationship, has
her work cut out for her. Unfortunately, play
ing a stereotype ain’t easy, but Boettcher-Tate
gives her all she’s got Maybe next time Annie
is done someone will cast a bitchy drag queen
as Miss Hannigan.
In a ludicrous mixture of fact and fantasy.
Daddy Warbucks (Sonny Sorrels) takes An
nie (Katharine Moir) to Washington to visit
the president The play is set in 1933, the
worst year of the Great Depression. FDR and
his cabinet are trying to find a way to get the
country back on its feet, enter Warbucks and
Annie. Before the scene ends Annie has FDR
and his staff singing Tomorrow!" Heady stuff.
“Where is the ever-present Sandy?” you
ask. He comes on for two brief appearances
and upstages everyone in sight Annie finds
Sandy in the first act when AWOL from the
orphanage. She is returned to the orphanage
in a later scene sans Sandy. They are reunited
in the last scene without any explanation. And
I’d really like to have heard just one “Arf!"
Dyketones to
celebrate
7th birthday
Portland’s premiere ’50s rock-n-roll dance
band, the inimitable Dyketones, will kick off
their eighth year of political hilarity with a
cele
bration at Starry Night on December 30. Ap
pearing form 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the Dyketones
will do their thing— combining music, theatre
and humor. There will be door prizes and a
limbo contest Childcare will be provided and
there is wheelchair access to the dance floor.
Tickets ($5.00) are available in advance at A
W om an’s Place Bookstore, Meier & Frank
and all BASS Outlets. Be there or be square!
Katharine Moir as Annie
Smythe plays
hom etown
Dan Smythe
Obsessed with show biz since the tender
age of eleven when he was selected to join
the Mrs. Nichols prestigious 5th Grade Choir,
Dan Smythe will premiere his nationally
acclaimed show at PSG’s Smith Center Ball
room on December 15, at 8 JO p.m.
An alumnus of Portland Civic Theatre’s
Junior program, Dan acted throughout his
high school years. After high school Dan
studied at the American Conservatory Theatre
in San Francisco, then graduated from
Southern Oregon State College with a
degree in Theatre.
While in college Dan first created and per
formed his one-man cabaret which he took
to the Big Apple where he performed in
cabarets and nightclubs from 42nd Street to
Greenwich Village.
Next stop, Hollywood, where Dan per
formed at Steinway Hall and the inimitable
Rose Tattoo.
Back in Portland again, Dan is working on
an MFA at PS(J and will, after all these years,
perform his show for the first time in his
hometown.
The show, Dan says, will encompass all
styles of music and songs from
every decade of the 20th Century. Other
features of the show will be a special guest
appearance by Jan Powell, star of last sea
son s Gypsy at PCT ; musical direction by
Ron Snyder, of Hatbox, Icon and Hobo’s
fame; and choreography by Patti Benson. In
addition, there is rumor that there will be a
surprise appearance by the lady we all know
and love, Mrs. Nichols.
Ju st O ut December 9-December 23