The classic musical comedy by Irving Berlin opened last weekend on stage at the Herricks Community Theatre, 999 Herricks Road, New Hyde Park. Director John Hayes and the Herricks Community Players have hit a "bullseye" with the entire show. It is, as they say when Annie shoots, a "hit." There is still one weekend left, so call for tickets at $17 or $12 for seniors at 742-1926 for this Irving Berlin gem.

Hayes, who is one of the best directors of community theater on Long Island, always carefully handpicks his cast and this show is no exception. Annemarie Pistilli, his choice for Annie Oakley, is right on the mark. She has a strong voice, which is needed, after all, the whole show was crafted for Ethel Merman. Plus, she has the brashness when she takes center stage and belts out some of the most memorable numbers including: There's No Business Like Show Business, Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better, Falling in Love Is Wonderful and Doin' What Comes Naturally. Just to be true to Irving Berlin, he includes right in the middle of the show, one of the sweetest ballads he has ever written, I Was Lost in His Arms. Pistilli handles this role with professional aplomb, bringing just the right amount of pathos to the role. You truly feel sorry for this little hillbilly girl who can't read or write, but can shoot any mark in site although finds out soon enough You Can't Get a Man With a Gun.

Her counterpart Frank Butler, the boastful bragger who is "the best shot in the county" and proves it by winning medals and drawing crowds whenever he appears in a traveling show with the famous William Cody aka Buffalo Bill, played by Dan Urban. Urban is a newcomer to the Herricks stage, but Hayes was right in his selection. He has a beautiful voice, is good-looking and perfect for the role especially when, surrounded by beautiful women, he sings I'm a Bad, Bad, Man. But, he meets his match in Annie, though clearly she is not his "type" of woman and says so when he sings, The Girl That I Marry. When he finally falls under her spell all seems lost when she wants an Old Fashioned Wedding and he doesn't, which makes for great bickering back and forth in yet another marvelous Berlin tune.

The next really pivotal stars in this production are veterans of the Herricks stage, Robert Valli and Andria Amarosa. Valli plays Charlie Davenport and Amarosa Dolly Tate, his sister. Valli opens the show and sets the pace when he arrives on stage with his great vaudevillian look. You will just love him, he's wonderful-his singing, acting and dancing are fantastic. You will be caught up with the enthusiastic, energy that he brings to every show, never missing a beat. His character is a promoter of Frank Butler and his shows, his sister Dolly is Butler's assistant. She is wonderful, too with a great voice and natural stage presence. Their bantering back and forth is superb, running through the entire show; sometimes they hate each other and, then again, sometimes they don't. But one thing is sure, she does not like Annie. She views her only as a threat to Butler and his successful shows and does everything in her power to get rid of her. Amarosa is delightful in any show and especially this one.

Buffalo Bill is played so well by Frank Hendricks and with his magnificent voice he booms out There's No Business Like Show Business and the audience will have to restrain themselves from joining in. Hendricks is a pro and is always excellent in every part he undertakes, Buffalo Bill is no exception. Pawnee Bill, his rival is played by Hal Bloom, one of the original Herricks Community Players. It wouldn't be a show without him. He even looks like a Pawnee Bill, cowboy hat and all. Michael Fagan is excellent as Chief Sitting Bull, who adopts Annie as his daughter and then guides her back to Frank. Fagan, is also no stranger to Herricks audiences and plays his role of Sitting Bull beautifully. He's a natural in this role.

Annie Oakley's siblings are played by Natasha Zaveri, Michelle Martin, Jen Kirsh and Alex Eisen, who is making his speaking debut, as is Dillon Murphy, the product of two fabulous talents Barbara Murphy and Denis Murphy and he's adorable. A "star" is born.

The lead dancers, well-trained by the "Tommie Tune" of Long Island, talented choreographer Tommie Gibbons include: Barbara Murphy, Denise Martin, Jean Toomey, Tommy Moshetto and Rhonda Kaplowitz. They are joined by background dancers that Gibbons crafted to perfection. They are Christina Reime, Lorraine Dulin, Jenn Stanis, Jennifer Martin, Richard Mungeer and Christine Eisen. They are all spectacular in the Indian Ceremonial Dance. Gilbbons was helped by dance captains Barbara Murphy, Denise Martin and Tommy Moschetto.

The second act at the Hotel Brevoort, has another spectacular dance number that involves the entire cast and it is breathtaking, I Got The Sun in The Morning is amazing especially with such a huge cast, all in step, a feat only Tommie Gibbons could pull off.

The orchestra under co-directors Susan Weber and Velma Adams is absolutely magnificent. They have picked Long Island's finest musicians and brought them all together to produce show music that rivals any off-Broadway production.

Carol Hayes and Maureen Dunn are co-producers and they make sure that all the nonprofit entities that the Herricks Community Players support get the most money possible. Bob and Eleanor Leslie team up to do set- construction and costumes. The set is beautiful and the costumes breathtaking. Nina Brugnoli is responsible for the tons of props that go on and off the stage. Russell Brown is doing the lighting and Ed Connelly the sound, all under the direction of Peter Triolo, stage manager and all-around jack-of-all trades. Bernice Magalnick and Rhoda Zwicker are the keepers of the tickets and they make the reservations and that's why nothing becomes confused. Working backstage moving the rather complicated sets is Maureen Dunn, Michael Beaury, Amber Jansen, Joe Moore, Maggi Whitely and all those "angels" that jumped in to help when there was a shortage of hands.

You know, there really is No Business Like Show Business, so don't miss out on this show, it's great.