Annie Live!

8/10

If the name didn't tip you off, this was a live filmed presentation of the popular musical Annie, about orphan Annie (played by Celina Smith) whose life changes when she meets billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Harry Connick Jr.).  

To the best of my knowledge, they don't change much from the original music. I've forgotten how pretty simple the story is but that is rather its strength. Annie has a rather nostalgic quality to it: an unrestrained innocence and optimism.

Musical contains all the original songs except "You Won't be an Orphan for Long," which to be fair is no one's favorite. After two theatrical films and one made-for-TV, I'm so pleased to see a filmed adaptation of Annie not cut out "We'd Like to Thank you Mr. Herbert Hoover." It's a pretty fun number. Annie Live includes a few songs created for the original Annie movie as well. (Sorry if you're a fan of "Dumb Dog" or "Let's go to the Movies," you're out of luck.)

Great cast in this, especially the main trio of Smith, Connick, and Nicole Scherzinger as Warbuck's assistance Grace Farrell. Smith definitely has the pipes and brings the traditional determination associated with the titular orphan. Scherzinger brings the expected class and warmth to her character. I don't think anyone thought of Harry Connick Jr. when they think of Warbucks, but man does he nail the character's self-determination and controlled businessman personality. (He's no Albert Finney, but who is?) The only weak point is Taraji P. Henson as orphanage manager Miss Hannigan. She's too cartoonish. Every line is delivered as a high with no mediums or lows. She does do a great job with the singing, I'll give her that.

The whole thing was performed solidly. This isn't one of those live musical performances like Grease or Hairspray that got ambitious with what it was trying to do (which is completely understandable given the COVID situation); it's a modestly made production. I liked how they handled it. This used a larger stage than your traditional theatrical production and made good use of the wide are by being able to switch between backdrops and movable set pieces. The dancing and ensemble players all did well, too.

Recommended, it doesn't do much new when it comes to Annie but does it well and is just a genuinely fun way to spend a few hours.

Come From Away

9/10

Found on Apple+, this is a televised recording of a performance of the successful musical Come from Away. It retells how when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred multiple planes had to be grounded. One of those landing spots: an airport in Gander, Newfoundland. Soon the town and other surrounding ones had to pay host to approximately seven thousand people for a few days.

I really liked the choices here. This is one of those minimalist musicals that does a lot with a little. It doesn't rely much on fancy props, clothing, and sets. The majority of props here are chairs and tables. The story is mostly given through the dialogue and performances of the actors. Great cast by the way, they have the unenviable position of performing multiple roles they often have to switch immediately. I'm not sure how often they get the chance to leave the stage if at all. The band is onstage off to the sides mostly.  

If you're not a fan of musicals in general, I could see how the style could potentially annoy some. It's so intentionally "performancey" and giving exposition directly to the audience that it could feel a bit artificial. When I first started this it almost felt a little like a skit making fun of educational music performances, however that feeling quickly passed as I got wrapped up in everything.

The driving force here is the story. It is one of unexpected basic generosity and kindness during times of struggle. Of course, since this story is specifically related to 9/11 the musical also deals with the loss, initial confusion, and general fear and anxiousness of the event. The entire logistics of all the planes having to land and the care and housing of the passengers was interesting of itself. 

I admit that most of the songs in this aren't earworms and the styles are similar enough that they can run together. Don't get me wrong; they are good songs and help drive the mood of the whole thing. There is a sort of vaguely folk music/local color feel to them. In terms of musical performance, credit should especially be given to Jenn Colella as pilot Beverley Bass who has the most demanding solo performance.

Highly recommended. This is just a really well put together and entertaining and interesting work.

Hamilton

10/10

This is a filmed recording of the hit musical Hamilton, a musical about first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton featuring a predominantly Hispanic and African American cast and hip-hop music mixed with other styles. From what I understand, it mixes footage from a live performance and separately filmed close-ups. This is a wonderful show!

The story in this is an engrossing look at one man's life and death, his tremendous highs and lows. Besides being dramatic, the clever lines in this can also be pretty funny.

The songs in this are truly unique. This presentation shows why Hamilton is the biggest musical of the decade. It accomplishes something that appears to be rarer and rarer in recent decades: every song is a winner. This is especially impressive since this is a song-only musical with basically no spoken dialogue.

The one part of this show that could be an issue for some is that singing and exposition can go by pretty quickly, especially in the first fifteen minutes, and you could miss something.

The choreography and staging are also great, not to mention very creative at times. The dancing really accentuates the story and songs. The set rather than changing scenes takes the minimalist route of having one basic set and the use of body movement, props, and a couple other stage aspects in order to tell the story. It's all so complex and fascinating to watch.

The performances in this are top-notch all-around. I've heard and seen a lot of comments that Lin Manuel-Miranda (the lead and creator of this) isn't as strong a singer as the rest of the cast, however it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role. (Though by now, I'm sure plenty of people on stage have.) He just pulls off the man's drive so well in such a passionate manner. Going back to the show's sense of humor and unique interpretations, we are treated to a couple of delightfully flamboyant turns from Daveed Diggs and Johnathan Groff (from Frozen and Mindhunters).

The nice thing about this compared to seeing the show live on stage is that the close-up shots allow you to truly get a good look at the actors' expressions. (Though once in a while since the blocking is done in relation to talking in the direction of an audience, the actors can be facing the camera at an odd angle. It's not a big issue.)

Overall, I can not recommend this tremendous work enough.