``mountain Laurels'' Is A Regular Series Of Letters From Readers Conveying 
Thanks To Individuals Or Groups For Their Support, Help Or Kindness.

Around Town 
Bell Atlantic Changes Number: 
Bell Atlantic Residential And Business Customers Soon Will Have To Dial A Few 
More Digits To Reach The Company's Repair Service Department.

By WALTER S. MITCHELL JR.; Times Leader Correspondent
 Friday, February 14, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





Facing tight financial constraints, the Music Box Players had to do
something to jump start a sagging treasury. So the Swoyersville musical
theater company decided to open the 1997 season with the musical "Annie." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And the story of the charming orphan in the red dress has kept the players
in the black. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The perennially popular musical opened to nearly full houses last weekend,
and for good reason. Director Kevin Costley has assembled a top-notch cast of
Music Box regulars and newcomers, many repeating roles from past "Annie"
productions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The result is a pleasant night of family fun. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kathleen Moran handles the title role with confidence, and she belts out
the lyrics of "Tomorrow" and "Hard-Knock Life" with enthusiasm. Credit also
goes to her fellow orphans, who work very well together, especially in the
opening scenes. The others are Whitney Adams, Lauren Costanza, Leslie Dewees,
Ann and Maureen Moran, Marianna McGill, Melissa Newhart and Alison Taroli. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Debbie Zehner has performed dozens of key roles during her decade-long
stint at the Music Box. But her rendition of Miss Hannigan, the head of the
orphanage, is arguably her signature performance. As the staggering drunk who
barks out commands to her "children," Zehner is at the top of her game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She excels in both the solo, "Little Girl~" and with Costley and Bernadine
Borinski Vojtko in "Easy Street." Vojtko is graceful yet sexy as Lily St.
Regis, the squeaky, brash girlfriend of Costley's Rooster Hannigan. She
becomes the focus of the scene leading up to "Easy Street" as she straightens
her nylons up to mid-thigh. And her bit -- extending a wad of bubble gum
several feet up from her mouth -- is priceless. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Costley reprises the Rooster role with veteran expertise, and Vojtko and he
are ideal in their ruse as the Canadian couple who have come to claim their
"daughter," Annie. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Stylinski seems to be getting all the strong male roles at the Music
Box lately. His handling of the part of billionaire Daddy Warbucks is crisp
and perfectly impersonal at the outset, but he's not afraid to show his
emotional attachment to this red-headed orphan who invades his fancy home and
cracks his formal business veneer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stylinski's best work comes in the solo "Something Was Missing," and with
Moran in "I Don't Need Anything." But Stylinski dominates Lorna Graham (as
Grace Farrell), whose voice is weak in both song and dialogue. Dan
Kolojejchick is also inadequate as the butler Drake. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The always capable Michael Gallagher shines as President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt, and E.T. Goman does good work as a member of Roosevelt's Cabinet
and as the radio sound effects man. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sharp performances come from Joe Gilbert as radio program host Bert Healy
and Marge Dewees, Linda Orseck and Evelyn Tomasovic as the Boylan Sisters,
especially with the close harmony of "Fully Dressed." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The members of the chorus, called upon to perform a variety of cameo roles,
are quite strong. In addition to Dewees, Gilbert, Goman, Orseck and Tomasovic,
others include Deb Kolojejchick, John Krokos, Melissa LaNunziata, Josh
Levandoski and Bill Lipski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Music director/conductor Linda Houck and fellow musicians Dale Houck and
Louis Piazza handle the snappy score with ease, and Gallagher's sets are
well-defined and functional. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Almost any production of "Annie" creates a strong demand for tickets. With
the high quality of this edition of the cartoon orphan and her dog, Sandy, the
coffers of the Music Box should get a much deserved boost. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Annie" continues at the Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St.,
Swoyersville, tonight through Sunday, and Feb. 20-23, 27, and 28. Showtimes
are Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3:15 p.m. For ticket information, call
283-2195 or 1-800-698-7529. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`annie' Brightens Audience's Lives, Music Box's Finances