Annie

Annie
Phamaly
Stage Theater
Denver, CO
July 13-24, 2017

Annie is story of an underdog who overcame great odds to live happily ever after. It's an appropriate message for Phamaly, a company made up of actors living with disabilities. But this group made it very clear that these odds won't stop them from achieving their dreams.

The talent of these actors is undeniable. Miss Hannigan was perfectly portrayed – heartless and phony. Rooster, her brother, was equally villainous. Daddy Warbucks and Grace were perfection in their idealized goodness. And Annie shone as the little girl who brought them all together.

The scenes with the orphans and in Hooverville were even more sympathetic when played by performers with obvious disabilities. Their plight seemed more tragic with this added dimension to their situations. And seeing President Franklin Roosevelt in a wheelchair was not only historically correct, but also brought an added humanity to his character.

The set for the show took advantage of the wonderful Stage Theater at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Pieces of furniture were brought up and down smoothly through the elaborate trap door system, although other pieces were deftly brought onstage by the stage crew. The projection system took each scene to the next level. It was beautiful to see.

This Annie was as inspiring as it was entertaining. They didn’t just perform a show, they lived it.