Annie

Once again the society gave the young members of Callander Kirk Junior Choir the opportunity to show their talents in one of the amateur circuit’s favourite musicals and they lived up to their expectations singing beautifully, and moving in character and in unison. In the title role was a confident Lucy Underwood.  Her hauntingly sung ‘Maybe’ set the bar for the show. She gave us some wonderful moments as she combated Miss Hannigan, manipulated her benefactor Warbucks and gained his love and was especially insightful in realising when she is confronted with the phoney Mudges that her feelings are for the present and Daddy Warbucks and not the fantasy of her parents. The orphans gave her great support with Amelia Morley as Molly delighting with her direct and feisty approach. Angela Dickinson in the role of Miss Hannigan shows she is as trapped as the orphans and who could fail to be moved by her rendition of ‘Little Girls’. On the edge of drunkenness but alert to the main chance, she balances pathos with comedy and her facial expressions were awesome.  Her brother Rooster was played wholeheartedly graspingly by Brian McKay egged on by Lily, his deliciously scheming partner played by Gemma Ferguson. This trio gave ‘Easy Street’ their all. There were so many good individual performances here: Naomi Scott graceful in song and action as she was in name Grace; Grant Webb as the impersonal powerful businessman Warbucks who recovered his human side through his love for Annie seen in a heartfelt ‘Something was Missing’; Steve Murphy as the long suffering Drake but with humour; John Gallacher bringing gravitas to the role of Roosevelt; the wonderful voice of Steven Kent as Bert Healey; and the characterisations of the orphans, the Boylan Sisters, Sophie The Kettle et al.  Memorable moments also came with the Chorus singing Hooverville and the harmonies in the servants’ numbers. The sets complimented the action, likewise the costumes, and the orchestra supported the singers. The lighting was handled sensitively and unobtrusively. All the hard work by officials and cast resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable performance that was a pleasure to watch.  

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