Annie

This well know musical with a capacity audience follows the story of orphan ‘Annie’ and how she warms the heart of billionaire businessman ‘Oliver Warbucks’.

In the lead role of ‘Annie’, you have to have the right character in the part and young Autumn Abernethy was just perfect, she gave a good strong confident performance and the audience just loved her, well done Autumn. Chris Barker was the ideal ‘Oliver Warbucks’, he gave a strong and robust performance and as always his singing was excellent. He was well supported by Hayley Dent as the stylish ‘Grace Farrell’ with plenty of vocal ability too. Comedy was provided by Karen Barker as the harridan and permanently inebriated ‘Miss Hannigan’, and her con-man brother ‘Rooster’, a sleazy little man was confidently played by Will Patrick, with Charlotte Cooper as his ‘moll’ Lily St Regis.

I very much liked The Boylan Sisters, and Dave Stockton was immaculate as Warbucks butler ‘Drake’. I thought that all Annie’s fellow orphans were a great mix of characters, well done to each of you. I was delighted to see Chris Wilson give such a super and sincere interpretation in the role of ‘President Roosevelt’.

All the smaller, but still very important roles were all performed well. The members of the ensemble were good and their delivery of both Hooverville and NYC was very effective. The choreography was well suited to a cast of different abilities, the costumes and props were well sourced, and not forgetting Sandy ‘Ted’ who behaved well.

It was a shame that some of the audience on the night that I came along were forever coming in, then 5 minutes later going out, sometimes climbing over seats. ‘Ted’ was far better behaved. Sound and lighting were as always good as was the orchestra. Thank you for a warm welcome and hospitality.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.