By: Amanda Hoffmann
Popular musical stars Oceanside girl
The BroadHollow Theatre Company, located in the Elmont Library, is presenting "Annie," a musical that chronicles a group of orphans during the depression, from Dec. 13 through Dec. 28.
"Annie represents the hope of the country, her glass is half full," said artistic director, Laura Wallace-Rhodes. During the show orphan Annie is taken in by billionaire Oliver Warbucks for a week at Christmastime. While Annie is there, Warbucks falls in love with the child and wants to adopt her. But, when Annie was left at the orphanage, she was left with a note from her parents that they would return. At her request, Warbucks tries to help Annie find her parents and calamity ensues.
In order to prepare for the show, Wallace-Rhodes had the children do research for their roles.
"We researched the Depression, watching movies like 'Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken,' 'Seabiscuit,' and 'Grapes of Wrath,'" said Felicia Goldfarb, whose daughter, Rebecca Lynn Goldfarb, 7, is one of three actresses that split the role of Molly, the youngest orphan.
"We studied Roosevelt and the New Deal and came to understand how all these people in the depression who were so down saw this man [Roosevelt] rose through those obstacles and provided hope for a nation that really had none," said Goldfarb, who lives in Oceanside.
Rebecca said she's always loved the movie 'Annie,' but now she feels differently because she has a new level of understanding about the era.
"Before, I didn't know how the orphans really felt. I knew they were sad but I didn't understand how they really lived," Rebecca said. "Now, I feel like I really understand the characters in the show. I know the orphans felt, sad, lonely, cold, hungry and hopeless and they always had to work and eat cold mush."
The daunting task of researching her character hasn't dulled Rebecca's enthusiasm about the show.
"I was so excited to get this part," said Rebecca, who got her start in the spotlight at the age of three, when she began taking dancing lessons. She has since been in several dance recitals, two other plays, a television commercial and an episode of Sesame Street.
"It is so much fun to be in a show and see it become something so special," Rebecca said. "It's exciting when you first start practicing and get your scripts, learn your lines and start learning the words to the songs and dance steps."
The play seems to mirror, in some ways, the country's recent economic downturn, Rebecca said.
"I see how times are similar today with the stock market and people out of jobs," Rebecca said. "It seems to me that it is almost the same way as it was when Roosevelt was elected."
But, Rebecca said that she believes President-elect Barack Obama will be as helpful to the country as Roosevelt was.
"It was exciting to watch the election and results of it and see how hopeful people are that Obama will improve our country," said Rebecca. "I was happy to be a part of that history and I feel like I understand it better from my experience with Annie."
"Annie" is playing from Dec. 13-Dec. 28 at the BroadHollow Theatre, located in the Elmont Library at 700 Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont. Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors, $20 for subscribers, $18 for students and $14 for youths 16 and under. Group rates are available. For tickets and information call 516-775-4420 or 631-581-2700 or go to www.broadhollow.org.
Dana Klosner-Wehner contributed to this article.
