Last Saturday we belatedly celebrated Aunt Mary’s birthday. We met her at Applebee’s and had a very nice dinner. We then treated her to CVCA’s production of the musical Annie.

I hate to be repetitive (see the last 4-5 years’ entries on the CVCA musical), but it was once again excellent. I am in some awe at the quality of production we put on at CVCA. I know I am prejudiced because I work there, but I also have seen a lot of theater, so I think I have some background to know good theater.

This year’s production was less of a spectacle that last year’s Beauty and the Beast – it almost had to be; there was no way to go “up” from that production. That is not to say that Annie was stingy or badly staged – it was very well done. There were just fewer spectacular dance numbers, effects, and costumes, and that was okay.

The set was well done – the staging portrayed an orphanage, the great room of a mansion, a Hooverville slum, the Oval Office, and various streets and offices. This is more impressive if you know our stage – it is shaped like a “V” with the point being the backstage area. It does not leave much room for sets.

The pit orchestra was smaller than usual this year, but still had about 10 people in it, most of whom were students. It is hard for me to grasp that we have high-school-aged students who can play so well. Go, pit!

The acting was fun and well done. I thought the casting was excellent. The actor playing Daddy Warbucks even shaved his head. I was not sure about Annie herself at first, but she played the cheerful girl part so well that I was won over after just a few minutes.

I do like being on the “inside” of a play – I know the directors, and I know some of the kids, and I know much of the audience. It is one of the added joys to seeing theater at CVCA. This year, I did not know too many actors – I maybe knew 4 or 5 by name (out of a cast of 30 or so), and only one of them is in one of my clubs. Usually I can know a few more because I end up knowing them somewhat through Meredith and her classes, but that was not the case this year. Still, I had a very good time, and I am looking forward to more CVCA productions.