By: Sue Stevens Durbec, arts
editor
Silent film star
W. C. Fields famously advised actors never to share a stage with children or
animals. It’s advice Equity Actor Neil Mowles apparently choose not to heed.
Mowles plays
Oliver Warbucks in Theatre Arlington’s current production, “Annie.” Which means he shares the stage with seven
adorable little girls and one equally adorable, scene-stealing dog.
The show is
earning rave reviews and Mowles is quick to heap a sleigh full of praises on
director Melanie Mason.
“When you're
working with material that can be and has been delivered in a rather saccharin
manner, I think it's important to find the true heart in the story. Melanie was
great in helping us find it,” Mowles said.
The children, some
with impressive theater credentials, deliver with acting, singing and dancing
skills that belie their tender years.
Zu, the canine Sandy, is stealing hearts in her acting debut. She was adopted
from Arlington Animal Services in June. Her theater career got a bit of a jump-start,
because her adopted parents are Mason and her husband, UT Arlington Theatre Arts Professor Dennis
Maher. Maher is portraying FDR in the show, so it is truly a family affair. 
Zu seems to be enjoying her time in the spotlight. But that could have something to do with the young cast members.
“She and Sarah, the girl playing Annie, have become fast friends,” Mason said.
In addition to the
girls and the dog, Mowles is sharing the stage “with my amazingly talented niece,
Jenny Thurman.’
He said when the
original movie version of "Annie" came out, Thurman was just a little
younger than the title character.
“I remember her
being fixated with the movie,” Mowles said. “But I think even then she
recognized that the role that would be the best to sink her teeth into was Miss
Hannigan.”
“Annie” runs
through December 16, but many shows are sold out. To check on tickets
availability, visit www.theatrearlington.org
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