Cappies: St. Francis Xavier High School presents Annie

Published Apr 12, 2025

Last updated Apr 12, 2025

13 minute read

Annie played by Keniyah Hinds (L), Warbucks played by Joseph Guilderson (C) and Grace played by Layla Ghadban (R) during St. Francis Xavier High School’s Cappies production of Annie, held on April 4 2025 at St Francis Xavier High School. Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

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St. Francis Xavier High School

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Annie

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Director: Tamara Capyk

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Sadie Hanley, Critic
Elmwood School

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Can the power of one child’s dream change the trajectory of their life and the lives of those around them? Through charmingly uplifting performances, depicting unrelenting determination in the face of hard knocks, St. Francis Xavier High School’s timely production of Annie proves that even in the darkest times, there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.

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Based on Harold Gray’s 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie, Annie follows a young orphan in Depression-era New York who longs to find her parents. After being taken in by cynical billionaire Oliver Warbucks, who uses his connections and wealth to try to locate her parents, Annie helps soften his heart. Meanwhile, her cruel orphanage matron, Miss Hannigan and her scheming brother, Rooster, plot to scam Warbucks and get Annie back.

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Keniyah Hinds skillfully embodied Annie’s youthful optimism and wistful longing. Hinds’s high-pitched voice and childlike mannerisms sold this portrayal of the young girl. This performer tackled difficult solos in “Maybe,” “Tomorrow,” and “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here,” demonstrating a tasteful falsetto. Hinds radiated infectious energy with every line and action, highlighted by adorable interactions with runaway dog Sandy.

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Between sharp blows of a whistle, Hala Alzoughool commanded the stage as desperate Miss Hannigan, delivering lines with threatening confidence. Alzoughool’s creepy frustration drew attention in every scene, especially in the songs “Little Girls,” and “Easy Street.” Joseph Guilderson’s take on Oliver Warbucks tracked a visible thaw, transforming from preoccupied tycoon to concerned father-figure who rolls up his sleeves to help Annie reunite with her parents. Guilderson brought a convincing warmth and a comforting, yet commanding presence when on stage.

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Annie played by Keniyah Hinds (L) and Warbucks played by Joseph Guilderson (R) during St. Francis Xavier High School’s Cappies production of Annie. Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

Layla Ghadban brought a practiced poise as Warbucks’ secretary, Grace. Ghadban carried Grace with confidence, taking on Miss Hannigan and taking charge of Warbucks’ staff. An impressively strong singing voice helped Ghadban take on the challenging music with ease. As President Roosevelt, Sage Uduoise played the role with subdued authority. Uduoise’s calm, strong line delivery gave this portrayal a convincing presidential feel as Roosevelt developed the New Deal with his Cabinet. Summer Black’s charming portrayal of six-year-old orphan Molly brought levity to scenes in the orphanage. Black’s convincing voice and physicality were adorable and attention-grabbing.

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The large ensemble cast remained fully in character throughout. Whether wielding filthy mops for Miss Hannigan or fluffy feather dusters at Warbucks’ mansion, every member of the ensemble was engrossed and in their character.

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The small but mighty Hard Knock Life orchestra worked together to attack the challenging score, setting the tone with the overture and maintaining energy throughout set transitions. They balanced well with the singers they accompanied, with standout performances by Ben Gudbranson on drums and Ewan Murdie on baritone sax, who laid impressively solid bases for the orchestra.

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Orphan Outfitters compiled cohesive costumes that contrasted worn rags with silk dresses and fitted suits. Grace’s outfits were elegantly tasteful, while Annie’s endearing dresses, socks, and Mary Janes marked her transformation from orphan to billionaire’s daughter. Hair and makeup were well executed by the Gussie Her Up team. Annie had signature corkscrew curls, and Warbucks was expertly moustached. Eye makeup highlighted the corruption in Rex Klenavic’s conniving portrayal of Rooster. The rotating sets created by Sets for Tomorrow and changed by Stars-To-Be efficiently transformed the setting, shifting from the gritty streets of New York to Miss Hannigan’s salon with ease. The walls of Warbucks’ mansion were decorated with skillfully painted art. Set changes were purposeful, character-incorporating transitions.

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The cast and crew of St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of Annie artfully shared the juxtaposition of one dream, from rags to riches, abject poverty to extreme wealth and loneliness to love.

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Pluto Udechukwu, Lead Critic
Immaculata High School

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Hope and heart found a home on the stage at St. Francis Xavier High School’s rendition of Annie. With heartwarming performances, thoughtfully crafted set pieces and strong musical support, this production of the classically known and loved musical offered a joyful and engaging experience from beginning to end.

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Annie is set in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It follows the story of a brave young orphan who dreams of finding her parents. Annie lives in an overcrowded orphanage and her life takes a dramatic turn when she is chosen to spend the holidays at the mansion of billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Annie is a heartwarming musical that celebrates hope, family, and the belief that better days are always ahead.

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Keniyah Hinds, in the role of Annie delivered an exceptional performance that showed great stage presence. Annie’s optimism and child-like spirit was captured beautifully through expressive movement and charisma on stage. Vocally, Hinds’s performance of “Tomorrow” showcased impressive range and control while maintaining the innocent tone of a young child.

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Warbucks, portrayed by Joseph Guilderson, delivered strong vocals and expressive body language. The dynamic between Annie and Warbucks was captivating and heartfelt. Their relationship was portrayed with warmth and authenticity, slowly transitioning from formality to genuine love and affection. For example, in the musical number, “I Don’t Need Anything but You,” the chemistry between the two characters brought depth to the story, making their bond believable and touching.

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July played by Hannah Bouchi-Ettinger (L), Pepper played by Mary Ofili (C), Molly played by Summer Black (FC) and Kate played by Sophia Iraci (R). Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

Additionally, in the role of Miss Hannigan, Hala Alzoughool delivered a comedic performance, embracing the character’s chaos and bitterness. Rex Klenavic as Rooster also added to the comedic energy with big, expressive actions and dynamic stage presence. The character was played with flair and enthusiasm which added a vibrant energy to the production.

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The orchestra, called Hard Rock Life, provided strong musical accompaniment throughout the performance. The balance between instruments and vocals was well done, ensuring that the actors’ voices remained clear and expressive and were not overshadowed by the music.

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Costumes by Orphan Outfitters reflected the differences between the orphans’ tough lives and the luxury of New York’s elite. Every outfit felt right for the time period and the variety and accuracy of the costumes added richness to the visual storytelling.

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Lighting done by Bright Lights, Big City elevated the atmosphere of each scene. For example, the warm tones during the Christmas scene created a cozy, festive feeling, while brighter, more vibrant lighting reflected the busy energy of New York City.

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St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of Annie was a delightful celebration of hope, love and family. With strong performances and brilliant technical pieces, the rendition was a heartwarming reminder that even in hard times, the sun will always come out tomorrow.

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Abby Duplessis. Lead Critic
St. Mother Teresa High School

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The clunk of a bucket and the slap of a cruel orphanage owner were the soundtrack of Annie’s youth. The dedicated cast and crew of St. Francis Xavier High School told the story of this “Hard Knock Life” and the hope that glimmered within it.

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Annie is based on a novel by Thomas Meehan with music from Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Despite being an orphan during the Great Depression, Annie is a resilient and kind child who yearns to be reunited with her birth parents. When the billionaire Oliver Warbucks decides to take in an orphan for the Christmas holidays, he meets Annie, and both their lives are forever changed.

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The Hard Rock Life orchestra was timely, vibrant, and harmoniously matched to the vocals. A particularly mesmerizing song was “Little Girls” sung by Hala Alzoughool, in the role of Miss Hannigan. It was effective due to a raspy voice and a casual aggressiveness while pushing the orphans. The orphan’s distaste for Miss Hannigan was accentuated by sullied facial expressions and imitative body language.

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Lily played by Madisyn Lafrance (L), Drake played by Katy Simard (C) and Rooster played by Rex Klenavic (R). Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

Keniyah Hinds used an innocent smile to portray the optimistic Annie while also using vocal expressiveness to convey a spectrum of emotions. Whether it was holding Grace’s hand or tenderly stroking another orphan’s hair, Hinds worked well alongside others. In the role of the loud and uncaring Miss Hannigan, every line Hala Alzoughool spoke was in an unsavory tone and timed for maximum impact. The character of Miss Hannigan was further emphasized by constant movements such as unsteady walking and sarcastic laughter that permeated through Alzoughool’s entire body.

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Layla Ghadban personified a calm and nurturing Grace with a sweet voice during numerous songs, including “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here”. Ghadban was dedicated to always having proper posture and graceful gestures. As the mischievous Rooster, Rex Klenavic used dramatic facial expressions and devious hand motions. Madisyn Lafrance’s condescending looks and pushy yet sleek stage presence exemplified Lily’s overconfidence. This paired well with Klenavic to create a dynamically corrupt duo.

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The Gussie Her Up hair and makeup team paid excellent attention to individual character details such as Molly wearing a flower in only one pigtail to symbolize her poor situation and Warbucks having a businessman’s slicked-back hairstyle. By employing muted colors and a worn-out style for the orphans and providing jewellery and furs to the wealthier people, the Orphan Outfitters produced a striking contrast in the costumes. Lighting, done by Bright Lights, Bright City, progressed through a variety of warm tones during emotional scenes, employed a striking blue to represent the cold and used spotlights to effectively capture attention.

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The amazing cast and crew of St. Francis Xavier High School produced a captivating rendition of Annie. It delightfully illustrated that the real secret to a meaningful life is a smile.

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Manal Abdul-Rahim, Critic
A.Y. Jackson Secondary School

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“You’re never fully dressed without a smile,” and St. Francis Xavier High School’s heartwarming performance of Annie could easily put a smile on anyone’s face.

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Set in early 1930s New York, Annie, an 11-year-old orphan, finds herself pulled away from her difficult life at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage and brought into the luxurious world of billionaire businessman Mr. Warbucks. Warbucks first brings Annie into his home to help his public image, while Annie’s biggest dream is to find her parents. Initially, they don’t seem like a pair that will last, but as their unexpected bond deepens, they both learn important lessons: Annie discovers that family isn’t always defined by blood, while Warbucks comes to realize that he doesn’t have to face life alone.

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As the lead, Keniyah Hinds did a wonderful job of bringing Annie’s character to life. When on stage, Hinds was consistently smiling and moving with lively movements, effectively capturing Annie’s bubbly and playful energy. Furthermore, Hinds’s chemistry with the rest of the cast naturally developed Annie’s relationships with the other characters, which was an essential part of the story, highlighting Annie’s friendliness. Not only was Hinds a skilled performer but a talented vocalist as well, showcasing an incredible vocal range throughout the show, especially during the performance of “Maybe,” which included challenging notes that were perfectly executed.

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Kate played by Sophia Iraci (L), Molly played by Summer Black (2ndFL), July played by Hannah Bouchi-Ettinger (3rdFL), Miss Hannigan played by Hala Alzoughool (C), Pepper played by Mary Ofili (3rdFR), Duffy played by Zara Uduoise (2ndFR) and Tessie played by Lily Grimes (R) during St. Francis Xavier High School’s Cappies production of Annie. Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

Another standout vocalist was Joseph Guilderson in the role of Warbucks. Guilderson’s ability to demonstrate true passion while singing was exceptional. A crucial part of Warbucks’ character was his progression from a reserved and seemingly emotionless businessman to a soft-hearted adoptive father to Annie, and Guilderson’s display of emotion while singing, particularly during Warbucks’ duet with Annie, “I Don’t Need Anything but You,” clearly showcased this growth.

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As Grace Farrell, Layla Ghadban beautifully embodied the character’s classy and poised demeanor. Ghadban carried a calm elegance that perfectly matched the status of a rich and powerful woman. Furthermore, Grace’s wardrobe, selected by the Orphan Outfitters costume team, added to this portrayal as well. Whether it was the fur coat worn when first meeting Annie or the silk dress when arriving at Warbucks’ house, Grace’s costumes helped enhance her polished character. Grace also became a motherly figure to Annie, supporting Annie through her transition into a new life. With subtle touches on the shoulder, caring motherly glances, and the use of a softer tone of voice when speaking with Annie, Ghadban clearly portrayed this growing relationship.

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The atmosphere of the show was effectively developed using lighting, done by the Bright Lights, Big City team. For example, during a scene involving the police, the lights alternated between red and blue, adding a realistic touch to the stage. Furthermore, during the performance of “Hooverville,” as the performers sang, “We’re turning blue!” the stage lights turned blue, which was an impressive detail that was perfectly timed.

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Each adaptation of Annie has its own unique charm that makes it special, and this production was no exception. The cast and crew of St. Francis Xavier High School delivered an incredible performance that captured the well-loved spirit of this classic musical.

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Sarah Devlin. Critic
Redeemer Christian High School

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With scrappy charm, shining vocals, and a heartwarming message of hope, St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of Annie proved that even in the darkest of times, the sun really will come out tomorrow.

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Set during the Great Depression, the musical follows the spirited young orphan Annie as she navigates life at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage and eventually finds a new home with the wealthy Mr. Warbucks. With its memorable characters, catchy musical numbers, and uplifting message, Annie is a classic that leaves a lasting impression.

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The cast brought the story to life with strong performances that captured the spirit of each character. The show’s star, Annie, was vibrantly portrayed by Keniyah Hinds. Hinds did justice to the nostalgic bubbly orphan that Annie is. This performer demonstrated a brilliant use of vocals, not only in the beauty of how Hinds sang but also the stamina and consistent power that was shown throughout the entire performance.

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Mr. Warbucks, the money hungry billionaire man was played by Joseph Guilderson who was able to give Warbucks a full range of emotion by demonstrating on stage how the materialistic man’s cold disposition slowly thawed as sweet little Annie infiltrated his heart. Thanks to Annie’s help, Warbucks was able to open his eyes to the lovely woman that is Grace Farrell. Grace’s motherly presence was brought to the stage by Layla Ghadban through a sweet, light singing voice and interactions with the other actors on stage. As a contrast to Grace, we were given Miss Hannigan. Hala Alzoughool was perfectly cast as Miss Hannigan. Alzoughool had a wonderful stage presence and powerful, raspy voice that only added to that. “Easy Street” and “Little Girls” were particularly delightful as Hala made brilliant use of vocal tones and body language to truly show the crowd Miss Hannigan’s true colours. Miss Hannigan’s partners in crime, being her brother, Rooster, and his mistress, Lily St.Regis, were embodied by Rex Klenavic and Madisyn Lafrance. This dynamic duo had a sinister chemistry that brought scandal and drama to the stage.

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Rooster played by Rex Klenavic (L) and Miss Hannigan played by Hala Alzoughool (R). Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

The world of New York City in Annie was brought onto St. Francis Xavier High School’s stage via Sets for Tomorrow, where there were multipurpose set pieces made with thought that could be swiftly used to change scenes and the overall mood as quickly as possible. The lighting done by Bright Lights, Big City did a wonderful job at adding to tone and atmosphere either through the changing of warm to cold light and back again, the flashing of blue and red across the stage to resemble police lights, or a simple spotlight playfully dancing around the stage- being sure to focus the crowd at certain moments. Orphan Outfitters gave a unique charm to each character whether through Grace’s elegant clothing pieces or beautiful tasseled flapper dresses. The most notable costume choice being the assimilation of Annie into high society and into Warbucks’ life by gradually giving her more detailed and colourful dresses in contrast to the muted patchy dress she wore in the orphanage.

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Overall, the St. Francis Xavier High School production of Annie was a heartwarming and well-executed performance that highlighted the talent and hard work of the cast and crew. With strong vocals, compelling acting, and a clear passion for the story, the show brought warmth and charm to the stage from beginning to end.

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Annie played by Keniyah Hinds and Sandy played by Archie during St. Francis Xavier High School’s Cappies production of Annie. Photo by Sadie Parent /StudentArticle content

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About the reviews:

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The St. Francis Xavier High School production was reviewed by 32 critics representing 8 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Erin Wilson of St. Mother Teresa High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Tracy Ludmer of Philemon Wright High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

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Next review: Woodroffe High School’s production of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical.

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About the Cappies:

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The Citizen and 23 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, D.C.based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Two schools from other boards in the region and two private schools have also joined. The Cappies season culminates with an awards Gala in June graciously hosted by the National Arts Centre. Follow Canada’s Capital Cappies on Instagram @OttawaCappies.

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