‘Annie Junior’ brings miles of smiles to audiences

Thursday, February 25, 2010

MILFORD – In a time where there is so much doom and gloom with the world, it’s great to see a play that lifts your spirits. “Annie Junior,” put on by the Riverbend Youth Company Jan. 29-31 at the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley, did just that. Riverbend Youth Company is comprised of elementary, middle and high school-age residents from Amherst, Milford, Mont Vernon, Lyndeborough, Brookline, Merrimack and Wilton.

Hannah Whitney, a seventh-grader at Amherst Middle School led the talented cast of local youth as Annie, the spunky and optimistic red-headed orphan. Annie dreams of finding her parents and leaving the drudgery of the orphanage, which is run by the horrible Miss Hannigan (Emily Borne). Luck seems to strike her at just the right time when Grace Farrell (Morganne Bent) arrives at the orphanage stating that wealthy business tycoon Oliver Warbucks (Patrick O’Mara) is looking for an orphan to spend the Christmas holidays with. Though, the mansion is like seventh heaven to Annie, she still wants to find her parents. Though they almost get swindled by Rooster (Nicholas Hammes) and his floozy girlfriend, Lilly St. Regis (Andi Aiken), in the end, Annie finds a place where she truly belongs.

This show was filled with energetic and uplifting musical numbers including, “Tomorrow,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You” and “NYC.” The ensemble had a unique combination of talent including that of the Star To Be (Ruth Kemmerer) in the “NYC” number.

Directed by Meg Peterson, this show was a delight for audiences to watch. The sets, which were designed by Mike McKnight and painted by a team led by Anne Lederhos, brought the show to life.

Congratulations to the cast and crew on a great weekend of performances.

More exciting shows for the Riverbend School of Theatre are being planned. Stay tuned March 11-13 for the student One Act Playwriting Festival and May 14-23 for “The Wizard of Oz.”