Annie

Annie

Kingsley Players

6/2/25

Set in 1930s New York during the great depression, Annie is, without doubt, one of the most popular musicals. Based on the book written by Thomas Meehan about the children’s favourite redhead orphan Annie, with lyrics and music by Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse. Annie is a mix of brilliant songs with well scripted characters that takes you through the full range of emotions. The songs are well known tracks such as "Hard Knock Life", "Never Fully Dressed without a Smile" and the instantly recognised "Tomorrow", all beautifully sung by an extremely talented cast. 

Despite the theme of the 1930s Depression era, there is much here to enjoy; the exceptionally talented children playing the orphans are entirely believable, wholly endearing and full of individuality. My congratulations to Molly (Bethia Horton), July (Lizzie White), Kate (Molly Cummins), Tessie (Grace Baker) and Duffy (Luciana Gibson), praise also to the Little Girls Lily Quarterman, Emily Deakin, Charlotte McLoughlin, Charlotte Walker and Megan Triantis, you were all absolutely wonderful. The young actors on the Kingsley stage this evening proved conclusively why we should be so incredibly excited for the future of amateur theatre. The actor’s saying about “never work with children or animals” doesn’t apply in Annie, after all it is a show based around an 11-year-old girl and Sandy the Dog (Petal) who was an absolute joy.

Brave young Annie (Rachel Horton) is forced to live a life of misery and torment at the orphanage of Miss Hannigan (Louise Steggals). Annie believes that her parents will return to take her home.  Louise is a tour de force as the spiteful disillusioned Miss Hannigan her delivery of ‘Little Girls’ was sublime, what a voice, a splendid performance. The New York projected skyline created a versatile backdrop to create Annie’s journey through the tough streets of 1930s New York when she absconds from the orphanage.  Annie finds a stray dog she names Sandy. Sadly, an NYC Policeman (Aaron Cawley) picks up Annie, returning her to the orphanage and Miss Hannigan, leaving Sandy with a dog-catcher (Christine Lee) and her assistant (Pauline Higgins). On her return to the orphanage much to Miss Hannigan’s dismay Annie is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Phil Murray). Oliver sent his secretary Grace (Lisa Buckley) to make the arrangements. Soon Annie is ensconced in the Warbucks Mansion and, with her blunt but cute approach to life is loved by everyone working there, including Oliver, who wishes to adopt Annie. However, Annie is determined to find her parents. Oliver promises he will help, contacting his friend President Roosevelt (Keith Boswell) the FBI and offering a reward of $50k if they are found. Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan with brother Rooster (Paul Horton) and girlfriend Lily St Regis (Beverley Ross) to spoil Annie’s search, and claim the $50k reward. Their intention is to say Annie is their child who they were forced to leave with Miss Hannigan years earlier. Their combined performance of the song ‘Easy Street’ is quite amazing, great performance well done.

Director Valerie Ball knew what she wanted from this production, solid casting, strong stage crew, talented production team, lighting Mike Vickers & Kenton Barker and sound Neil Silcock. The set was simple but effective allowing plenty of space for the story to unfold. Jen Deakin did a good job with a relatively large cast taking on a number of different roles, not easy so well done. The whole hard -working ensemble, look as if they are having a thoroughly great time in this show and this production of Annie is, without doubt, a well-staged imaginative and fun which was a delight to see.

For me, the standout moment of the show is “it’s a Hard Knock Life" which sees Rachel join forces with her fellow orphans for a wonderfully enthusiastic delivery of a number that I promise will be stuck in your head from the moment you hear it. The joyful expressions on their faces were a total delight the highlight of the show for me.

Extremely good performances here I have to mention Lousie Steggals in particular as the disillusioned orphanage owner, a compelling performance with well-timed humour.

Marked announcer Christine Lee, The Boylan Sisters, Jen Deakin, Chloe Rigby and Charlotte Rees, Star to Be, Summer MacDonald, and ‘a face for radio’ Ben Greenall well done to all concerned in the Radio Studio scene.

Thank you, Kingsley Players for a very entertaining evening of musical theatre.

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.