My overall impression
There are many good musicals this year, and Annabella is the best original book musical and score. This mystical Italian fable is a chamber musical that is mostly through-composed and operatic. The musical score enchants while the songs passionately soar with beautiful melodies sang by talented powerful voices. Sometimes tender and often dramatic, the music is central to the story. The direction is impeccable and marionettes provide mirth and depth as a spoken and mimed Greek chorus. All Excellent!
The Fringe is about the development of new work, and Annabella is so good that I want more as it goes to the next level. The spoken bridge scenes in the middle are dead and could be enlivened with more songs and support music, plus an intermission. But even without changes, Annabella has a future and I look forward to seeing more.
