With curtain time drawing nearer for its stage production of the musical, Annie, 100 Mile Performing Arts Society is getting down to the refining stage.
Last week, the cast was able to sit down and review a video shot of a recent rehearsal.
Director Marie Hoople (formerly Smith) says seeing themselves perform did wonders for how the actors perceive themselves and led to positive changes.
The play opens on Feb. 24 at Martin Exeter Hall with a cast of almost 50 per cent youths under the age of 17.
In the spotlight is Kelsey Schuurman, 11, who plays the lead role of Annie with a talent and confidence level that far exceeds her years.
Her unfaltering voice as she sings the trademark song, “Tomorrow” makes her worthy of star status.
“Kelsey is amazing and has come into her own in this production,” says Hoople. “She has far outstripped our expectations for her. She is an acting dynamo.”
The rest of the young cast is no less brilliant. Hoople says they have all been diligent in coming to rehearsal prepared and putting everything into each session.
“They’re actually giving the adult cast members incentive to do better.”
The endearing musical, which is set in 1933 Depression era New York, focuses on the unfortunate situation of little carrot-top Annie, whose parents have left her in an orphanage for adoption.
Her biggest wish is to be reunited with her mom and dad, but in the meantime, she remains under the iron-fisted rule of the tyrannical Miss Hannigan (Marie Hoople).
A ray of sunshine comes her way at Christmas when she is chosen to spend the holidays with wealthy Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks (Nick Goshorn). She wins over his heart and Warbucks decides to help Annie find her parents by offering a reward if they step forward.
That sets in motion a plan for evil Miss Hannigan and her accomplices to impersonate the parents and collect the money.
The entire theatre troupe is loaded with talent, but expertise extends well behind the curtains.
The set for Annie is the combined effort of dedicated back stage people along with actors and Kevin Mapson, a local high school teacher whose previous experience with professional set design has resulted in a monumental improvement in efficiency for the theatre company.
His suggestions and guidance in building a periaktos-style backdrop, which involves a set of revolving triangular prisms on which three separate scenes can be painted has been monumental.
Scene changes are done with a simple tug on a pulley and are rapid and easy, keeping the flow of the production going.
The theatre troupe has built a good reputation on a succession of quality productions and Annie is no exception.
Evening performances are Feb. 24-26 and March 3-5 at Martin Exeter Hall, and both Saturdays will offer a matinee.
Tickets are on sale at Donex, Didi’s and Curves at $15 each.
