Musical (1977)


Musique: Charles Strouse
Paroles: Martin Charnin
Livret: Thomas Meehan

Acte I
It is 1933 and eleven-year-old Annie is in the Municipal Girls Orphanage, along with Molly, who is six, Kate, who is seven, Tessie, who is ten, July, who is thirteen, Pepper, who is twelve and Duffy, who is thirteen. When Molly awakes from a bad dream at 3:00AM, Annie comforts her. Molly then asks her to read the note Annie's parents gave her in 1922, when she was left at the doorstep of the orphanage. The note says that her parents will come pick her up, so Annie is always hopeful that they are still out there (Maybe).
Annie decides to escape to find her parents, but is caught by the orphanage supervisor Miss Hannigan, who is currently suffering from a hangover. Miss Hannigan is angered by this and forces all the girls to vigorously clean the orphanage (Hard Knock Life). Shortly after, Mr Bundles, the laundry man, comes in to pick up the blankets. While Miss Hannigan is flirting with him, Annie climbs into the laundry basket and the orphans cover her up with blankets. Once Miss Hannigan realizes Annie is gone, the other orphans express their frustration (Hard Knock Life Reprise).
Annie successfully escapes, running into a friendly stray dog. As she comforts him, she tells him of better days yet to come (Tomorrow). The dog catcher is after him, so Annie pretends he is hers by calling him Sandy. Though at first unsuccessful, he is convinced, and she continues. She later finds a Hooverville, where people made homeless by the Great Depression have come together as a community (Hooverville (We'd Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover)). However, a cop sent by Hannigan catches her and brings her back.
Grace Farrell, assistant to the billionaire Oliver Warbucks, comes to the orphanage asking for an orphan to come to his house for the Christmas holiday. Because Annie was in Miss Hannigan's office, Grace asks to take Annie, and Hannigan reluctantly agrees. Once Grace has left, Miss Hannigan explodes with her hatred for all the girls in the orphanage (Little Girls).
Meanwhile, at the Warbucks Mansion, the servants and staff welcome Annie with open arms (I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here). When Oliver Warbucks comes back though, he is very moody and not too happy to have an orphan in his house. He asks Grace to take Annie to a movie, but she persuades him to come. As Annie and Warbucks begin to like each other, they enjoy a fabulous night in New York City (NYC).
Back at the orphanage, Miss Hannigan's brother, Rooster, and his floozy girlfriend, Lily St. Regis, pay a visit. Miss Hannigan mentions that Annie is staying at a billionaire's house, and Rooster and Lily think they could use this situation to get rich, though they don't yet know how (Easy Street).
Warbucks sees the locket around Annie's neck, and buys her a new one from Tiffany & Co. However, Annie bursts into tears saying it was the only thing left by her parents, and refuses to accept a new one. Grace and the Warbucks' staff then pledge to find Annie's parents no matter what it takes (You Won't be an Orphan For Long).

Acte II
Annie soon appears on the radio, on a show by Bert Healy, singing Maybe. On the show, Warbucks announces that he is offering 50,000 dollars to the couple that proves to be her parents. Healy then sings a song for everyone with the Boylan sisters (You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile). The girls in the orphanage happen to be listening, and decide to have fun and dance around and sing the song they've just heard (Fully Dressed Children). When Miss Hannigan hears, she barges in and demands to know what was happening. Molly announces that Annie was on the radio, and that there is a $50,000 reward for her parents. Miss Hannigan is anything but pleased. Shortly after, a couple named Ralph and Shirley Mudge come in, saying they left a little girl here eleven years ago and have come back for her. Miss Hannigan is shocked. The Mudges soon reveal themselves to be Rooster and Lily, and explain their plan for the reward. They request information about Annie from Miss Hannigan for one third of the money, though she demands one half for this service, and tells them about the note and the locket. They develop a complete plan (Easy Street Reprise).
Back at the mansion, hundreds of couples are showing up, though all are confirmed to be fakes by Grace, because none knew about the locket. Warbucks brings Annie to Washington D.C. where she requests to meet the president. FDR asks her to stay, and she begins to sing Tomorrow, though shushed by the cabinet. Roosevelt however, believes that people must be optimistic during tough times, and commands his cabinet to sing (Cabinet Tomorrow). Once back at the mansion, Warbucks tells Annie how much he loves her Something Was Missing. Because Annie's parents have not shown up, Warbucks announces he would like to adopt Annie (I Don't Need Anything But You). They decide to throw a Christmas party, and Annie wants to invite Miss Hannigan and the orphans. While preparing, the delighted staff tell of how Annie's arrival has changed their lives (Annie).
Judge Louis Brandeis shows up to begin the adoption proceedings, but is interrupted by Mr. and Mrs. Mudge (Rooster and Lily in disguise) who come to pick up Annie. Grace and Oliver are shocked, because they know about the note and the locket. Still, Warbucks doesn't think they are Annie's real parents. Warbucks requests that Annie be allowed to stay one more night for the Christmas party, and then be taken away to their supposed Pig Farm in New Jersey. Early that morning, she wishes she could have been adopted, and not sent off with her "parents" (Maybe Reprise). However, it is revealed by FDR, who shows up, that her parents are actually Margaret and David Bennett, who died when she was a baby. They then figure out that Mr. and Mrs. Mudge are really Rooster and Lily just as they show up to claim Annie and the money. They, along with Miss Hannigan, are arrested by the Secret Service, and everyone is delighted by FDR's new deal for the economy (New Deal for Christmas).

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