When the homeless started singing I felt compelled to shut off the musical. Trying to make homelessness quaint in a musical didn’t sit well with me. Taraji Benson’s overacting made me long for the creator of Mrs. Hannigan-Dorothy Loudon. Because I forced myself to continue watching, I was rewarded by the star of the production, Nicole Scherzinger, who played Grace the secretary to Daddy Warbucks, horribly acted by Harry Connick Junior. Nicole’s classy performance made Annie Live a worthwhile viewing experience because of her superlative dancing, acting, and singing.
Annie and the Orphans Perform “Hard-Knock Life” | NBC’s Annie Live! – YouTube
Gordon's Culture Critiques 