If I ever saw the film “Annie Get Your Gun,” it was on TV a million years ago. I saw the tv series with Gail Davis in the ‘50’s. Still, I knew so many of the songs because I listened to the LP with Ethel Merman portraying Annie Oakley. So many songs I knew- “Doin’ What Comes Naturally, You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun, Anything You Can Do, They Say it’s Wonderful” to name a few. I couldn’t wait to see this classic Irving Berlin show on the intimate stage at Act II Playhouse. I wasn’t disappointed! Every aspect was an A+. I don’t know where to begin.
Let me start with Renee McFillin as Annie. She sings. She dances. She acts. She projects both the feminine side of Annie Oakley and the simple boyish side. And she shows us both the proud and the human side of the legendary cowgirl. She IS Annie Oakley. Move over Ethel Merman!
Then there is Frank Butler (Michael Isaac). It is easy to portray this male sharpshooter in an over-the-top, stereotypical manner. Isaac handled it with grace and power and gave Butler a very real persona.
I could go through each member of the ensemble and point out how good he or she was. I loved the choreography by Stephen Casey, who also directed this masterpiece. I was overwhelmed by how much he did to bring this play to life. It was a visual treat thanks to him and costume designer Janus Stefanowicz.
As for the story, it’s a simple one. It’s about the challenge of Frank Butler by Annie Oakley in a sharpshooting contest. They develop feelings for each other but struggle to overcome the barriers of a male-female relationship of the day. The story unfolds seamlessly as we watch the many issues confronting them.
The small ensemble surrounding Annie and Frank was great. I loved watching the two dancers (Cara Treacy and Gaby Mosely) as they danced about in the gorgeous costumes by Stefanowicz. And Dominick Sannelli was extraordinary as Charlie Davenport, the business manager of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, where Annie and Frank perform.
This cast gave extraordinary renditions of the songs by the great Irving Berlin. Such smart lyrics. Such beautiful tunes. The performance of those songs is reason enough to see the show. I know that many of the shows are already sold out. This rendition of “Annie Get Your Gun” rivals anything you might see on Broadway for a fraction of the cost. I guarantee that you will be thoroughly entertained for every minute of this remarkable production.
“Annie Get Your Gun,” Original book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields as revised by Peter Stone. Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin at Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Avenue., Ambler, PA 19002, 215-654-0200, act2.org thru June 28, 2026
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 