Annie

This show was the Society’s Christmas offering this year and it worked an absolute treat! There was virtually a full house and the opening night audience enjoyed every single moment of the production. To set the mood during the overture, the audience was brought up-to-date with a slide show of big news events of the period that set the scene perfectly. Then it was off to the orphanage where the principal orphans (Evie Peoples, Poppy Hardie, Catherine Scott, Ellis Johnston, Summer McGrath and Samantha Flight), and the ensemble orphans all made themselves known, particularly in the brilliant and exuberant “Hard Knock Life” number, which raised a great cheer at its end. By this time, we had met Annie, superbly brought to the stage by Carys Morgan in an assured and competent manner and, with an amazing powerful singing voice to put over her big numbers like “Tomorrow”. A star for the future methinks. Another strong singing voice belonged to the horrible harridan, Miss Hannigan (Ruth McKay), who was always inebriated, sloshed, and sarcastic, and this was evident from her big solo number “Little Girls”. Hers was a first-rate performance. Billy Naismith was impressive, as always, as Annie’s rich billionaire benefactor, Oliver Warbucks, stamping his authority on this role with a fine interpretation and, he too, had a rich singing voice – heard to its full glorious effect in the beautiful “Why Should I Change A Thing?” solo. Claire Rioch was absolutely perfect as Warbucks’ competent secretary, Grace Farrell, showing much grace and elegance, and was also clever enough to be the one to spot the “fake” parents! Dastardly work, and laughs, came from the nasty, and naughty, duo of a sly, conniving, Rooster Hannigan, and saucy, sassy, Lily St Regis, played with great verve and passion by Neil Hutton and Eilidh Robertson who, along with his sister, Miss Hannigan, all three brought an energetic and vibrant “Easy Street” to the stage. Craig Nicoll bustled as Butler, Drake; Derek Murray was an imposing President Roosevelt; and Alan Kerr did his bit as radio man Bert Healy. Oh, can’t forget Roxy who played Sandy the dog and also Mamie playing the stray dog! This was a real feel good show and it all went superbly to put everyone into the Christmas spirit.

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