A Wish Called Wanda

REVIEW: Media Theatre's Annie

by David Anthony Fox

I have a private wish list of star performances I'd kill to see: Bette Midler as Lady Bracknell. Mario Cantone as Willy Loman. But I never dreamed I'd find Wanda Sykes playing Miss Hannigan in Annie — and right in my own backyard, too (OK, at Media Theatre, where she alternates the role with Philly favorite Mary Martello).

Wow. Well, why not? After all, Miss Hannigan, the orphanage director you love to hate, is a droll cameo that welcomes idiosyncratic performers. Also, let's be honest — total immersion into character isn't exactly necessary. (Really, once you've reached the land of tap-dancing orphans, you're not worrying about credibility.)

Yet to Sykes' credit, she doesn't coast on her star persona. Sure, she delivers with her trademark deadpan. But she also works to be a team player, and though her vocal resources are slim, she genuinely sings the songs — more than many Miss Hannigans. Sykes' performance has its peaks and valleys, but you gotta love that she's doing it, and she's quite accomplished in "Little Girls." If ultimately she's upstaged by tiny children and a dog ... hey, that's show biz.

As for the rest of the show — it's Annie. The tunes are infectious, the kids are adorable. The book scenes? They, er, hold the tunes together (and as seen here, they would benefit from a little more energy and speed). Director Jesse Cline's production uses period photos and film — at Sunday's matinee there were some glitches, but several scenes are quite beautiful. Tori Heinlein is a vocally secure and charming Annie, and there's exceptional supporting work from Elisa Matthews (Grace) and Reggie Whitehead (Rooster). Ensemble singing is uniformly good.

Expect that this Annie will do a bang-up business with families — and, of course, the Sykes factor will draw curious adults. (I'm guessing that Mary Martello, who plays Hannigan from Dec. 15 to Jan. 10, may bring more virtuosity to the part, and either way audiences will go home happy.) Through Jan. 16, $54, Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100, mediatheatre.org.