Witness Goldberg's Comedy Masterclass in 'Annie'
Goldberg's Anticipated Return
After years away from the stage, Whoopi Goldberg may have had concerns about being "rusty." However, her portrayal of Miss Hannigan in the "Annie" production at The Theater at Madison Square Garden proves otherwise. On Wednesday, Dec. 11, she took the stage and was greeted with thunderous applause from the audience. This was a welcomed return that showcased her talent and charm.Goldberg's return is significant as it comes 40 years after the debut of her self-titled 1984 Broadway show, which launched her career in Hollywood. It is also the first time she has had a major role on a New York City stage since her brief run in 2008's "Xanadu." This opportunity to play a villain in "Annie" was a dream come true for her.
As Miss Hannigan, Goldberg embraces every moment with ease. With a bottle of booze in hand and a whistle around her neck, she plays the orphanage proprietress like a drunken drill sergeant. Her slurred speech and wobbly stance add to the comedic effect, making the audience laugh out loud.
The Blueprint of Miss Hannigan
The role of Miss Hannigan was created by the late Dorothy Loudon in the original 1977 Broadway production and she won a Tony Award for it. Since then, countless actresses have followed suit, including Carol Burnett (in the 1982 movie), Katie Finneran and Jane Lynch (both in the 2012 Broadway revival) and Taraji P. Henson (in NBC's "Annie Live!" in 2021).Goldberg takes things up a notch by finding new moments for Miss Hannigan to steal focus. She moves seamlessly from the character's many mood swings - bitter, batty, sweet, sarcastic, flirty, funny - inducing laughs with her quick pivots. In the musical numbers, she is equally excellent, not missing a note and packing a punch in "Little Girls."
During the climax of "Annie," Goldberg delivers one of the biggest comedic moments with an off-handed remark to Mark Woodard's FDR. Her performance in the musical numbers, such as "Easy Street" with Rhett Guter (as Rooster) and Isabella De Souza Moore (as Lily St. Regis), is also remarkable. Her choreography brings hilarious new layers to Miss Hannigan's malice.
The Impact on Goldberg
For Goldberg, this experience has been impactful. While she loves being on the ABC daytime series "The View," she considers herself an actor first. The older she gets, the more she wants to get back to her acting roots.Her co-hosts on "The View" were also impressed by her work. Sunny Hostin praised her talent, saying, "There's a reason why she's an EGOT, right? And there is a thing that I see - a glow around the truly gifted, the blessed, the anointed in a certain thing - and that's what I saw." Joy Behar added, "I have to give it to you, she was great. Great. She sings, she dances... I just thought you were wonderful. And to see your legs! … How many years are we working together? Seventeen? Okay, I never saw those legs!"
The Musical and the Production
"Annie" is one of the most treasured musicals of all time, based on the 1924 comic "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray. The story follows a young orphan desperate to find her parents who gets her world turned upside down when she's chosen to spend the holidays with billionaire Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.This production is directed by Jenn Thompson, an original Broadway cast member. The lead role of Annie is played by Hazel Vogel, with Christopher Swan as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks and Julia Nicole Hunter as Grace. The tour also features a talented ensemble including Aria Valentina Aldea, Eva Lizette Carreon, Anna Dillon, Kylie Noelle Patterson, Olive Ross-Kline, Nora West, Stephen Cerf, Anthony DaSilva, Savannah Fisher, Alloria Frayser, Brooke Olivia Gatto, Caroline Glazier, Ryan Mulvaney, Joel Newsome, Melinda Parrett, Lawrence E. Street, Drew Tanabe and Stephanie Wahl.
Labradoodle Kevin will play Annie's dog Sandy, Stefanie Londino will play Miss Hannigan in tour stops outside of the N.Y.C. engagement and Avril Kagan is a swing for N.Y.C. performances only. Tickets for "Annie" are now on sale, and Goldberg's run continues through Jan. 5, 2025 before the tour moves to further stops in Baltimore, Indianapolis, San Francisco and more.