Little girls have still got a lot to teach the world. They’ve got their own special brand of magic, to be applied liberally. In the case of Little Orphan Annie, she’s been touching hearts and brightening the outlook since 1924. How can she still be relevant?
Annie, the musical, is playing at The Civic in Auckland until July 6th.The redheaded bubble of optimism makes her way onto the stage with class and a vibrant cast of recognizable faces. The British cast and local chorus bring the story to life with appropriate intensity and execution. It’s really worth heading along to see.
Why is it worth seeing?
The music is great, the songs well executed and the stunning ensemble of orphans will melt your heart – pulling off the more complex and adorable song and dance routines.
More importantly though, you should go and see this show to remember what the human spirit is all about. The political dial is turning up in this election year, and Annie is a story about politics.
Front and centre of the musical (more so than the film, both were distinct productions) is a singular storyline given multiple expressions. One human being doing good for another human being. Human beings in power taking on a responsibility to do good, rather than to simply govern. Those with a lot, trying their best to give in meaningful ways.
A group of Hooverites living in a shantytown feeding a little vagabond girl from their own scraps.
FDR recommitting the government to getting people back to work; Democrats and Republicans working hand in hand.
Oliver Warbucks opening his home and life to a little girl with nothing.
The original Little Orphan Annie was a comic strip created in 1924. An orphan girl caught in the midst of the post-war slide into Depression (the musical and film both catch up with Annie in the early ’30s). Her optimism and hope is the captured human expression of what the American government (Roosevelt and his New Deal) were committed to offering a desperate people.
It’s important to remember that the bigger, human scale story of Annie is about how we find hope in each other and ought to look to tomorrow as a world of possibilities. It’s also a pertinent reminder that sometimes things work out just fine, despite not turning out how you’d like them too.
Don’t be fooled into just singing along. This story should be shaping your view of the world this year.
E hara taku toa, I te toa takitahi ēngari he toa taku tini
(My strength is not from myself but from the strength of the group)
Please follow Anne, Lars, Marko, Adam, Ian and the rest of the YMATH team for their on the ground stories, videos, messages and reflections on being in Haiti.
Tomorrow morning at 9am EST they are hoping to help get aid to a tent city of some 5000 Haitians as yet unaided since the earthquake a month ago.
If you don’t do anything else, please at least pray for them and the fingerprints of God.
Not only is this little film iconic in it’s depiction of the pain and struggle of the creative process … but I also think it depicts the true trajectory of what leadership in the 3rd church looks like. Mainly this is inspired from time spent with someone I consider to be the most progressive, insightful & biblical church leader I’ve ever known. Look for more on that story later on … but for now… enjoy!
Welcome to Soul Pancake. Worth signing up for and definitely having a look around. I haven’t watched all the Oprah interview yet, but I think it’s ingenious, very 3.0 and entertaining if nothing else. Way to enter the spiritual discussion, outside the realms of academia. Of course, the cynic in me wonders how long before it gets swallowed up and overrun by the pious and well-meaning.
What amazes me about this montage is how singular the moments, brief flickers where each face holds her own, instantly recognizable identity, as the overwhelming dimensions of “beauty” hold centre stage.
The reason why you have to read it is because I’m too lazy to re-type it. But in case you’re wondering, the humour in the story about poor intrepid Gossip Girl Rachel Glucina… is simply the following.
John Key (yes, we are Facebook friends) is Prime Minister of this fine nation. And that one of our leading ladies of the social pages and gossip columns can call him to verify facts… delights me.
Obama, schmobama…. – a few weeks ago, when there was a confusion over scheduling for my friend Todd’s radio interview with JK, it was JK himself that made the call to doublecheck the time, not a secretary or media aide. Just saying folks, that why I like him.
Tash McGill is a broadcaster, writer and strategist who works with people and organisations to solve problems and create transformation. She believes people are the most important thing and that stories are powerful ways of changing the world. You can find out more at tashmcgill.com or by visiting her LinkedIn profile.
