"Annie The Musical" proves age is just a number, returning to the Goodspeed 50 years after its premiere

There's a lot to like about the Goodspeed's 50th Anniversary revival of "Annie The Musical." The score brings back a couple of classic tunes. The villains are hard to hate. It's even a bit of a history lesson as it confirms the value of the nontraditional family. All worthy reasons to take the time this holiday season to see this classic musical based on the 1924 comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" and her quest to find her parents.

But when all is said and sung and danced and done, "Annie the Musical" is really all about the kids, their feisty ragamuffin ringleader, and a dog: all strays looking for love on the hardscrabble East Side of NYC.

Preteens Molly, Kate, Tessie, Pepper, July, and Duffy share "The Hard-Knock Life" of the NYC Municipal Orphanage with Annie. Clad in pajama-rags (designed by Alejo Vietti), they remind us that, though down and out, they are still kids at heart, somersaulting over and leaping to and from each other's creaky dormitory bunks in an energetic opening number choreographed by Patricia Wilcox.

Even with all their grumbles and tumbles in sync, the precocious pack of urchins manages to brand each of their roles with a personality all its own. Sharp and sassy Pepper (Sadie Jean Williams) and her accomplice "sister -in-mischief" Duffy ( Skyla Joy Ward) take charge when mean ol' Miss Hannigan isn't looking. Worrywart Tessie (Issa Gonzalez) personifies angst with her repeated "Oh, my goodnesses." Sweet July (Adalyn Buckley) offers quiet support among the rowdies and little wide-eyed Molly,( Anjali Roa) tugs at the audience's heartstrings with her transparent vulnerability. One gets the feeling any of these young ladies could at some point in their acting careers take on the title role of the play - as does Sadie Jean Williams in a few performances a week during this Goodspeed run.

Still, by the second scene of Act One there is no doubt that 10-year-old Laiken Jules was destined to don a few red-hair wigs and take on the lead of this 50th- year revival of "Annie The Musical." After never missing a beat with her cohorts, the tattered troop orchestrates her escape from the orphanage, hiding Annie in a laundry cart - which ends up in the streets of NYC.

Enter Sandy - possibly the first rescue dog role on the Great White Way - looking as neglected as Annie. (The terrier mix was adopted for the production by guardian Bill Berloni - the same fellow who trained the first furry actor in the original 1976 premiere). Annie keeps Sandy at ease and attentive as she promises , "The sun will come out tomorrow," in a subtle, calming execution of the now- classic tune, her undertone more convincing than a raucous belting of the show tune - for now.

As for the adults cast in this historic revival -- and there are many - even the meanies - orphanage matron Miss Hannigan (Emily Skinner), her shyster brother Rooster Hannigan (Rhett Guter) and his partner-in-crime Lily (Kelly Berman) - amuse the way cartoon villains do: with a swift nip from a bottle, a well-timed lift of an eyebrow, or a knowing glance to the audience.

The good guys come off as a tad two- dimensional as a comic strip as well, but Leapin' Lizards - "Little Orphan Annie" originated as a comic strip! Benefactor Oliver Warbucks (Christopher Swan) starts off as stiff as one might expect an unmarried billionaire might be among children. Yet, he becomes more sensitive and caring toward Annie as each encounter progresses. His spinster secretary Grace (Julia Nicole Hunter) manifests her first name as she administers to her boss and the children visiting the Warbucks mansion, always appearing resplendent in her 1930s professional and formal ware designed by Vietti. I'm sure I wasn't the only audience member secretly wishing Oliver and Grace would someday warm up to each other.

Under the direction of Jenn Thompson, the 50th Anniversary of "Annie the Musical" hasn't lost a bit of its appeal as a feel-good, rags-to-riches tale of dreams come true. Gee whiskers - I wonder if Thompson ever dreamed she would someday direct the award-winning musical she played the child role of Pepper in - back in the day.

“Annie The Musical” runs Oct. 30 through Jan. 2, 2027 at the Goodspeed Opera House, 6 Main St., East Haddam. Performances are Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 6:30 p.m., with Monday performances performances on Nov. 23 and Dec. 22 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. There are no 6:30 p.m. performances on Sundays in December. There are added 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 27 and on every Thursday in December. There is no performance at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and no performances on Dec. 25 (Christmas Day). $47-$114. goodspeed.org.