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CHARMING ANNIE IN IN OSLO


CHARMING ANNIE IN IN OSLO

Review by Torkil Baden, Photos:  John Andresen

 

Mathea-Mari Glittenberg (12) as Annie. Foto: John Andresen

Annie (1977) musical. Book: Thomas Meehan, lyrics Martin Charmin, music: Charles Strouse.

 

OSLO: The heartbraking story of the orphan girl chasing her roots never fails to move the audience. Combined with hardhittings songs a production has everything to be a success. In this case the staging takes the talented cast of 70 into a show full of charm and impact.«Annie» is always a hit and has been so through numerous productions, also on Norwegian stages. The original cartoon from 1924 «Little Orphan Annie» is less known in Norway. But the redhaired optimistic girl with her dog and her belief in “tomorrow” is a classic after 36 years on the musical stage all over the world.  Also several other songs are on the repertory of choirs and bands and soloists throughout the land.

A dog’s life for the orphans, Foto: John Andresen

Amongst the 1 000 (!) children auditioning for the main role and others characters the chosen ones impress with talent and energy
. From five year olds to theatre students and professional actors the cast bubbles with energy. It is canalised by choreographer and director Jostein Kirkeby-Garstad (37) who now is coming up very strongly in Norway as a director of musical productions.

 

FIREWORKS

Two girls share the title role with impressing talent, and amongst the adult performers especially the two of the female leads Kjersti Elvik and Marian Saastad Ottesen are fireworks on stage.

 

Kjersti Elvik is a tough director of the orphans’ house, Foto: John Andresen

Original treats in this production are a new emphasis on choreography and tap dance which plays a major part of the visual impact. Unfortunately private reasons (family on stage!) forbids me to describe the dancing highlights, widely praised by other critics.

The production company is called Scenekvelder (Stage Nights) and is smoothly run by Atle Halstensen (47)
. He started out as a church organist in Bergen, and now he is playing a growing part in the Norwegian entertainment industry. It looks like he is inspired by the London theatre life, and he operates with a mixture of the musical direction of a Lloyd Webber and the organizing skill of a Cameron Mackintosh. After a few years as “musical director” now he stands out as “artistic director” in the programme. He is a gifted arranger and composer, but earlier the use of recorded music instead of a live orchestra has been widely critisized. In this production there is a happy mix of live and recorded music that works flawless in a good sound mix.

Lisa Stokke and the dancing household. Foto: John Andresen

Unnecessary to say that the family audience have a good time and they fill the 1200 seats of Folketeatret.

CAST

Annie: Mathea-Mari Glittenberg/Nora Helene Bratfos

Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks:Anders Baasmo Christiansen

Miss Hannigan: Kjersti Elvik

Grace Farrell: Lisa Stokke

Daniel “Rooster” Hannigan: Sturla Berg-Johansen

Lily St. Regis: Marian Saastad Ottesen

Happy ending, Foto: John Andresen

Butler Drake: Tor Erik Gunstrøm

Direction and choreography: Jostein Kirkeby-Garstad

Artistic direction: Atle Halstensen

 

Premiere 27th September 2013 Folketeatret, Oslo, Norway.

 

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