Annie

I have a soft spot for Hexham Amateur Stage Society. They were the first Society I found myself attending, for their production of “Guys and Dolls”, about a week after my appointment as Regional Representative. It was a sudden introduction to the world of NODA but a very pleasant one. Now, they are the first Society I have had the pleasure of visiting again. I once helped audition about 120 potential “Annies” and thought I would never be able to face “Tomorrow” again. So, I am always surprised to find I like the show with its music by Charles Strause and Martin Charnin, and the subliminal history lesson in the libretto featuring the Great Depression as its backdrop, and real American politicians like President Franklin D Roosevelt and Senators Perkins, Hull, Cordell, Ickes and Morganthau.

It was also good to see familiar faces in the cast from my first visit. Albert Simpson, who in his spare time is only the Chairman of the Society, was an impressive Daddy Warbucks. He played the part with just the right level of authority but susceptibility in the path of Annie’s charm assault. Mari Stewart (Miss Hannigan) and Henry Teuma (Rooster) played their parts with gusto. Henry has a very memorable face – and this is a compliment. He looks very American and is just made for parts like Rooster. He reminds me of one of The Bowery Boys from the old black n white movies I used to see on Saturday mornings as a kid (a long time ago). Mari was a funny and, at the same time, wicked Miss Hannigan although those horrible “Little Girls” seemed to have her pretty well weighed up, and seemed quite capable of running rings around her. On the evening I saw the show Annie was impressively played by Ruby Corder, but I was disappointed that she did not put on her red wig until late in the show. As a result, to me, she did not always stand out enough from the other orphans. The Society fielded two Annies during the course of the week, as well as two full teams of Orphans taking alternate shows. We saw the Friday team and very good they were.

I have one slight criticism to make, which relates to the music. I felt it could have been a little brisker to keep the show moving along at a more lively pace. Putting that (and the absence of Annie’s wig) to one side, I and my guests really had a most enjoyable evening.

I was happy to deputise for Regional Councillor, Gary Winn, at the end of the evening to present long service awards (on stage, in front of the audience, which came as something of a shock!) to three members of the company - from on-stage June Oliver (35 years), from backstage Peter Lee (40 years) and the Secretary Carol Baty (45 years). That’s 120 years between them! Very impressive.

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