Curse of Annie

So, I'm in this bar last night on 49th and 8th, and a big ol' drunk is bellowing about the "Curse of Annie." He said "Dorothy Loudon's dead. Reid Shelton's dead. Laurie Beechman's dead. Andrea McArdle hardly works. No one's ever heard from any of the orphans again or Barbara Erwin or Martin Charnin."

I'm thinking "freak" and push him out of the way to get to the bar.

Then, this morning someone tells me they saw Sarah Jessica Parker at the Democratic Convention and asks me if I've heard of the "Curse of Annie."

Ok, what's up? Am I the only person in midtown who has never heard of this malarky?

---

Nell Carter, who starred in the revival, also met an early end. Still, I'd say bookwriter Thomas Meehan has done OK for himself in the intervening years.

---

Andrea McArdle gets on my nerves.

But I loved Dorothy Loudon, one of the greats.

But as to the 'Curse', it is rather ridiculous. Probably most of the cast of SHOWBOAT is dead and has been for a LONG time, does that mean there is a curse. No, it just means that they died 'cause, you know what, people die.

---

I sure miss Laurie Beechman.