Her face is that of the littlest angel; her resilience that of a dead-end kid. If no one else in the cast of "Annie Warbucks" lifted a finger, Miss Zaremba would still carry the show over the finish line on her tiny shoulders of steel....Happily, the evidence of busy fingers is everywhere. Charles Strouse's score—full of peppy melodies and bright banjo rhythms—is one of the composer's best....There are plenty of laughs in the book by Thomas Meehan and the lyrics by Martin Charnin, who also functions as the remarkably clear-eyed director.... Bravely blinking back tears, Ms. (Donna) McKechnie explains that life deals you a lousy hand, "But You Go On," and proceeds to build the first-act torch song to a blaze.
Her face is like that of the tiniest angel; her resilience mirrors that of a hopeless youth. Miss Zaremba would still carry the show over the finish line on her tiny steel shoulders if no one else in "Annie Warbucks" lifted a finger....Charles Strouse's score—filled with peppy melodies and lively banjo rhythms—is among his best works....There are numerous laughs in the book by Thomas Meehan and the lyrics by Martin Charnin, who also functions as the remarkably clear-eyed director....Bravely holding back tears, Ms. (Donna) McKechnie explains that life hands you a bad hand, "But You Go On," and proceeds to build the first-act torch song into a blaze.