Staging An Annie For Grown-Ups

“Director James Lapine and his cast and creative team have tried to dig the musical out from the high-gloss varnish that has been applied in thicker and thicker coats since the show premiered on Broadway 35 years ago.” Annie has ditched her bright red wig, and Miss Hannigan “comes across as more of a Eugene O’Neill washout than an outrageous lush.”