Annie
By Richard Davis

It has been two full days since I enjoyed the musical Annie performed by at the Cabrillo Music
Theater. And I continue to enjoy the music. That’s because “Tomorrow,” “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile” play on and on inside my head. These catchy, wonderful songs have become as iconic as the musical itself, which originally opened on Broadway in 1977 and ran for nearly six years. The production broke records, spawned numerous productions in many countries, won a Tony Award for Best Musical and has now found its way to Thousand Oaks.

For those of you just coming out of a decades-long coma, Annie is a musical based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie. Set in Depression-era New York City, the musical’s heroine and namesake, a resident of the Municipal Girls Orphanage, is invited to stay for two weeks at the home of billionaire Oliver Warbucks (played by Norman Large). Later, Warbucks decides he wants to adopt Annie, but she refuses, believing her parents are still alive and looking for her.

Presented by the Cabrillo Music Theater, Annie opened to a packed house on Friday, Oct. 14. For star power, the theater recruited stage and screen (movie and TV) veteran Sally Struthers to play orphanage supervisor, Miss Hannigan. But the real star of the show, Annie, is played by a sixth-grader named Quinn Allyn Martin, whose talents as a singer had me suspecting she was a petite 38-year-old. She is able to belt out those Annie classics so forcefully that I hoped that her dog was wearing ear
protection.

It’s also a treat to watch Sally Struthers as the child-phobic Miss Hannigan since Struthers is as almost well known as the TV spokesperson for international child charities as she is for her role as All in the Family’s Gloria Stivic on the 1970s sitcom. It’s an irony that Struthers is well aware of, saying in a Theatermania interview, “Since I am known for being someone who spends so much time trying to help disenfranchised children around the world, playing Miss Hannigan is a great “180” for me. And it's the best part a woman can play on stage. She's a maniac and that allows me to be as zany as I can be at any moment. I can do anything I want. The thing about Hannigan is that she's always ready to explode.” W.C Fields may have feared working with children and animals, but Struthers, a two time Emmy Award winner, can certainly holds her own.

Not an easy task when matched with such a cute and talented group of pintsized potential scene stealers. However, there is a sour note among all this talent — and it has a tail. Sandy, Annie’s dog, is rigid and frankly, unbelievable as a dog. What’s more, the dog is given so many treats on stage that I fear when the musical finally closes; the poor cur will be 300 pounds. And if this musical isn’t sweet enough, the Cabrillo Music Theater begins each performance by bringing out a destitute doggy and talking about the local adopt-a-pet program. But that’s just one of the ways this theater gives to the community. The volunteer-based, non-profit theatre company’s mission is to introduce the musical theatre experience to those who might not normally have a chance to experience it. Since 2005, Cabrillo’s OUTREACH programs have included over 31,000 underserved, Title I children, in-need seniors, and active military troops, all free of charge.
Annie
The Cabrillo Music Theater,
Thousand Oaks.
Now through Oct. 23
www.cabrillomusictheatre.com

Guitarist Dave Widow Brings His Tasty, Funky Blues To Café Cordiale’ November 6
By Joanna Parker

Dave Widow is a guitarist-singer-songwriter from Cincinnati, Ohio currently living in the Los Angeles area. He and his band, "The Line Up", have appeared on a regular basis at such L.A. venues as The Langham, The Mint, Café Boogaloo, The House Of Blues, B. B. King's Blues Club, and The Lighthouse, as well as venues all across America, and abroad.

Dave Widow & The Line Up make a special appearance in the San Fernando Valley at Café’ Cordiale, 14015 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, Sunday, November 6, from 8:30-11 p.m. No cover; info: (818) 789-1985 or www.cafecordiale.com. Perfor-ming that evening in Widow’s band are renowned drummer Gary Mallaber (known for his work with Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison and Steve Miller Band among others); bassist Ray Brundidge (James Brown); keyboardist-vocalist Dave Morgan (Loggins & Messina); and other special guests.

With his unique style of finger picking and distinct vocals, Widow brings a fresh approach to the Blues, while also combining elements of R&B, Funk, Soul and Rock. His musical style is
influenced by his relationship with many great blues and R&B talents, including Buddy Miles, Bonnie Bramlett, Bill Champlain, Lonnie Mack, and his mentor and collaborator (the late) Roger "Jellyroll" Troy, bassist and vocalist for The Mike Bloomfield Band. Valley Scene Magazine recently spoke with Dave about his career and future plans.

VSM: When did you first start playing music? What genre of music did you play at first?

DW: I started out listening to and playing Beatles, Allman Bros., Eric Clapton, Delaney & Bonnie, and Otis Redding, to name a few, and scores of other R&B artists that I would hear on AM radio stations during the late 60's. The Beatles were my first favorite-group when I started playing-around the age of 10; I branched out from there, and later on, I got into the blues a bit more, but first I got into the 2nd and 3rd generation Blues/Rock artists, and then I made my way back to Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, and some of the earlier Bluesmen., to see where it all came from, originally.

VSM: What artists do you count as some of your biggest musical influences? Why?

DW: The Allman Bros. with Duane Allman's sweet slide guitar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Southern Rock bands like The Outlaws with their firey guitar-work and southern gusto; plus all of the Stax artists and the sweet Soul music. Motown was a big influence with all of those great tunes and great big old funky bass lines. Mike Bloomfield - after I met and worked with Roger Troy, who was a great singer/bassist-who was part of his groups, early Eric Clapton records and Delaney & Bonnie with their Southern gospel blues/rock, and all of the great guitar lines and soulful lyrics. Jimi Hendrix, of course, for all of his expressive guitar playing, Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, The King's - Freddie King, Albert King, BB King. Man, I love the way they played and expressed their emotion so well through their guitars...I like funky, soulful and melodic guitar players.

VSM: Talk about a few of your original songs, and what they are about?

DW: One of the new songs on my soon-tobe-released CD is called, "What Did I Do, To Piss You Off, This Time"...that needs little explanation, I think...I have another new tune called, "Picture Of You" which is a melancholy song about remembering a lost love, via an old photo I found, on a rainy afternoon, and it's an Americana/dreamy-sort of tune..."Leave A Piece Of Me", which was written about an old girlfriend who broke my heart...Huey Lewis almost recorded that one...He had it "on hold" for a time, anyway several years ago.

VSM: You play out with some pretty heavy hitters. Name drop a few.

DW: I worked with Buddy Miles, and I did some gigs with Bonnie Bramlett, many years ago now...I also got to do a few dates with Bill Champlin, from Sons Of Champlin - he's great, and he and I wrote a song together, called "Second Hand Love," which will be on my new CD...it's a cool tune. I'm working with my own band now primarily, which has a lot of very well-recorded players, including James Gadson (formerly of Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, etc.), Gary Mallaber (formerly of Steve Miller, Eddy Money, Van Morrison etc .), On bass, I've worked a lot with Reggie McBride(formerly of Keb Mo', Stevie Wonder etc.), and he's played on most of my two CDs.Gerald Johnson, also another great bass player(from Dave Mason, Steve Miller, CS&N etc.), who I have played many dates with. Now I'm primarily working with Bob Glaub on bass, and he's great, and I have some special guests who also come and play, from time to time.

VSM: Where do you see yourself and your music career at in, say, five years from now?

DW: I would like to be more well known, obviously, performing at concerts, and associated with a known record label, making CD's, or whatever medium is current at that time, still writing songs, collaborating on tunes with other writers and artists, and producing some other artists as well. I like to work on other artist's music, and help bring other artists ideas to fruition. www.davewidow.com

The Story of Doris Day
By Joanna Parker

Since the re opening of the historic El Portal Theatre in the year 2000 there have been two underlying themes – Hollywood and all things British. Shows about Hollywood starring the icons themselves on stage at the El Portal have included Bea Arthur at the El Portal, Debbie Reynolds (3 times!), Charles Nelson Reilly, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Danny Kaye Musical - The Kid from Brooklyn, Kathryn Crosby's Salute to Bing Crosby, A Conversation with Edith Head and most recently the Al Jolson musical, Jolson at the Winter Garden. British fare began in 2001 with Sir Ray Cooney's favorite farce Out of Order (winner of the Oliver Award for Best Comedy), and has included Toni Morrel's cabaret

Remembering the Ladies, and The Lythgoe Family holiday pantomimes - direct from London - Cinderella and this season's Snow White. Now El Portal combines these two favorite elements in November with the US premiere of the British hit A Sentimental Journey, the Story of Doris Day starring an all British cast! Special American guest artist Lily O’Donnell, a Maltese/Shitzu starlet and genuine Toluca Lake resident (owned by the Television Academy's Robert O'Donnell); will join the Brits as the “onstage” Doris Day dog. British theatre company The Mill At Sonning developed this fascinating new musical in London at the Wilton Music Hall in 2010, subsequently refined it at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, and just played 8 smash weeks back at their own theatre in Oxfordshire, England. Featuring 20 hit songs, the musical follows the fascinating life and career of the multitalented girl next door, Doris Day!

Well known UK actress Sally Hughes stars as Doris and is directed by the award winning Alvin Ratoff who was president of the British Director's Guild as well as a member of the BAFTA Council. Doris Day’s first hit record endeared her to British soldiers and the population in World War II, and they adopted her as one of their own. Sir Paul McCartney - who lists Doris Day as his "favorite" singer! - recently interviewed the Hollywood star for London's Daily Telegraph: "Paul Mc Carthy: You became the armed forces sweetheart [in 1945 with Sentimental Journey]. What was it like for you at that time with the returning soldiers?

Doris Day: I loved that song. It made me feel so good to think they were coming home and I loved that."

The love affair continues from November 2 - 20th at El Portal Theatre. Producers Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest are proud to import this British confection, and look forward to showing the cast the "rich Hollywood history of Toluca Lake” - including Doris' home on Valley Street and Toluca Lake's very own Jackie Joseph, who co-starred on the CBS Doris Day Show for 5 seasons (1968-72). Then after A Sentimental Journey we are so excited to have the Lythgoes back by popular demand with their family fun holiday shows! And there will be a special "British Invasion" celebration for New Years Eve and Day with the Beatles tribute show, Four Lads From Liverpool! We just can't get enough British fun!" A Sentimental Journey, The Story of Doris Day, plays the El Portal MainStage Theatre from November 2- November 20. Tickets are available by calling 818-508-4200, or online at www.elportaltheatre.com

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