Annie Get Your Gun at the Palace

The musicals at Georgetown's Palace Theater have been sorta disappointing this season.  Singing in the Rain was downright dismal.  Thus it was with fear and trembling yesterday that Fio and Husband escorted Sister-in-law and her mother to Annie, Get Your Gun, a stalwart from the Dark Ages.  Yes, Fio remembers seeing the original movie with Howard Keel and Betty Hutton and enjoying is very much.

But yesterday Fiorella sat in the darkened theater with pen in hand, waiting to zing the singers, the dancers, the director, the choreographer, the costumers, the set designers, the scene changes, the lighting.  She sat and sat and sat,  Finally she tucked her pen away and just enjoyed the show.  Yes, Annie, Get Your Gun, the Palace's last show of the season, is a winner.

Although it ends on a cliche note and Fio was disappointed that the "I'm an Indian Too" song was dropped in deference to political correctness,  Annie has an amzingly tight plot and many, many great songs,

Patty Rowell, who played the title role, was absolutely terrific.  Fio was especially impressed by her vocal versatility: the way she changed timbre and tone for dramatic effect, the nuances of shading she evoked.  Pretty darn good actress too..

The supporting cast was also great, even the kids, especially the kids who played Annie's siblings, especially the energetic little girl who played her younger sister.  And the woman who played the role of Frank Butler's assistant was also top notch.

The only one who didn't quite cut the mustard was Phil Rodriguez, the male lead.  Phil, Phil, Phil--what happened?  You were tremendous in the other things I've seen you in, especially Grease and that wedding thing, but you didn't have the voice for Frank Butler.  Maybe it's because Howard Keel's glorious baritone still echoes in the chambers of Fio's memory, but you lack resonance.  Listen to that guy who plays Buffalo Bill--that's what you need to sound like--as if you're singing into a rain barrel.  A good voice teacher could shape you up in no time.  Lift that soft palate and sing into the mask.