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Cast of 'Annie' shoots for stars
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Show: Young actors and dancers bring high-voltage energy and talent to match to Irving Berlin's musical.  

By Mary Johnson
Special To The Sun

July 18, 2002

The stage pulsated with energy at St. John's College during the weekend when the Talent Machine Company opened Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, featuring its younger performers in the 7-to-14 age group.

With its depiction of authentic American icons such as Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull, the 1946 classic proved an ideal choice for this 50-member cast.

Every member of the cast exuded high-voltage energy with talent to match and a high degree of professionalism that sprang from rigorous rehearsal.

These hallmarks of the company remain as strong as ever under director Lea Capps, daughter of the Talent Machine's late founder, Bobbi Smith. Capps' talent and hard work are evident in every scene.

Instead of dark time for set changes, Capps utilizes every inch of stage wing space in the Francis Scott Key Auditorium for actors to move the action forward during scene changes on the main stage.

Capps' commitment to this show is reflected in how well the newcomers, who make up half the cast, blend in with more-experienced performers so that they move in perfect step. And there were fewer miscues or missed lines on this opening night than I've witnessed at many adult openers.

All of this was evident from the first scene, "Colonel Buffalo Bill," in which Wild West show manager Charlie Davenport (13-year-old Ross Koenig) was joined by a large ensemble on stage to generate instant excitement in the audience.

The excitement increased when 12-year-old Taylor Rector appeared on stage as Annie Oakley.

Rector sang every song with feeling and was touching in "They Say It's Wonderful," feisty in "Anything You Can Do" and funny in "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly" and "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun."

She was able to convey every nuance of Annie's character to reveal an eager, innocent, funny, feisty and vulnerable Annie. To top it off, Rector didn't miss a step in her dances, despite their number and complexity.

Fortunately, Capps found for Rector's Annie a strong Frank Butler -- Oakley's husband -- in 14-year-old Matt Keffer. He held his own in their duets, "They Say It's Wonderful" and "An Old-fashioned Wedding."

Keffer added some pizzazz of his own to the show's biggest hit -- "There's No Business Like Show Business." He brought warmth to solo numbers including "The Girl That I Marry" and "My Defenses Are Down."

The supporting cast was strong with outstanding performances by 13-year-old Hana Thornhill as Frank Butler's assistant Dolly, 14-year-old Kyle Sweeney playing Mac, and 14-year-old Jordan Klein -- an awesome Colonel William F. Cody.

I've seldom encountered a more appealing brood than Annie's siblings as played by David Grindrod, Amber Spry, Samantha Curbelo and Ben Dean.

This cast is a fine example of what an ensemble really means.

Choreographer Bobby Smith, who performed and worked with founder Bobbi at Toby's Dinner Theater in the '70s, has done a masterful job of choreographing a demanding show. His talents are most notable in the "Indian Ceremonial" number.

Musical director Nicole Robyler brings her own formidable skills to this timeless score, retaining all the magic and making many of the songs seem fresh.

Having seen most of the Talent Machine shows offered the past six years, I'd have to rate the Annie Get Your Gun costumes the best.

Kudos go to Linda Scot and Barbara Klein and a hard-working group of at least a dozen parents, who had to construct and then find room to store the costumes.

The sets, constructed and decorated under the direction of Jerry Scott, were also notable.

"Annie Get Your Gun" continues at St. John's Key Auditorium in Annapolis on weekends Thursdays through Sundays through July 28. Call Talent Machine at 410-956-0512 for reservations.

Capital Newspaper - This appeared as a news article, not a review

Talent Machine's 'Annie Get Your Gun' a Hit

Your kids will love ''Annie get your gun''
                                                    By SUSAN BORDEN, For The Capital

The audience began singing along the minute the song ``There's No Business Like Show Business'' played, even before the curtain rose at last week's opening performance of ``Annie Get Your Gun.''

Throughout the two-plus hour show, the spectators' high level of enthusiasm never flagged.

``Annie Get Your Gun,'' a wild west musical with fancy shooting, show biz intrigue and a love story, is the newest Talent Machine production.

Featuring performers ages 6 through 14, it's a lively, fast- paced piece that showcases our area's abundant young talent.

Taylor Rector, who plays Annie, displays plenty of spunk and a talent for comedy. Her strong voice is at its best during the show's jazzier numbers and plays well with the comedic highlights of the score.

Matt Keffer, who plays Frank, has a rich, mature voice and a nice way with a song. He makes a good leading man and works his comic chemistry with Taylor to maximum effect.

Hana Thornhill (Dolly) does a great job in a challenging role and seems to have the makings of a real actress. Ross Koenig, Jordan Klein and Kyle Sweeney showed their comic sense throughout the evening. Even during serious moments on stage, their postures conveyed plenty of humor.

As Talent Machine productions always do, ``Annie Get Your Gun'' has ambitious choreography directed by Bobby Smith (no relation to the late Bobbi Smith, founder of the Talent Machine Company).

The boys in the cast dance particularly well. The ``Indian Ceremonial'' is especially well- directed and well-danced. The simple song, ``I'm an Indian Too,'' becomes mesmerizing with its impressive choreography, lighting and costumes. The actors in the scene remain stone-faced right through the applause.

Last year, shortly after seeing a Talent Machine production, I attended a performance of ``Kiss Me Kate'' at the Kennedy Center. ``Kiss Me Kate'' was, of course, well produced and performed, but there was something about the Talent Machine show that was more enjoyable.

The excitement of amateurs on stage is a refreshing contrast to the polish of professional actors and, at times, better conveys the pleasures of live theater. Those hesitant to attend a children's production might want to keep this in mind.

If you're wondering about whether or not to bring your children to a performance, there should be no hesitation at all. The show moves quickly and, like most Talent Machine productions, it's a great first show for children. Seeing other children performing is exciting for youngsters. The company's attention to the basics of stagecraft makes the plot clear and accessible.

The Talent Machine's director, Lea Capps, is to be congratulated for her choice of show. ``Annie Get Your Gun'' can be a hokey musical when performed by adults. But when staged with kids, it's playful and campy - the perfect entertainment for summer.

``Annie Get Your Gun'' plays through July 28 at the Key Auditorium at St. John's College, 60 College Ave., Annapolis. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 7 and under. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. For reservations, call 410-956-0512.

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