Annie

On arrival at Westlands, I was greeted by Dena, who warmly provided my tickets and programme and was very helpful in answering any questions I had. On entering the auditorium, I was immediately impressed by the set design, with washing lines strung across the entire theatre space, creating an effective sense of the orphanage. The staging was in the round, with the audience seated on three sides around a slightly raised central performance area, which created an intimate and immersive atmosphere. The main stage also featured the New York City backdrop, along with the excellent seven-piece live band, which added real energy and depth to the production.

The ensemble of orphaned children were already on stage in costume, convincingly staying in character as they lay fast asleep before the show even began - no mean feat to maintain focus and discipline for such a long period prior to the show starting.

Annie delivered a strong vocal performance with maturity beyond her years. Her clear tone, stage presence, and delivery engaged the audience, and she performed with composure throughout. It was hard to believe from the programme that she is only 11 years old. A polished and engaging portrayal of the role from a young talent with a very promising future.

Miss Hannigan was convincingly portrayed from the moment she appeared on stage. Her bitterness and resentment towards the orphans were clear throughout, creating a believable antagonist. Strong characterisation, excellent timing, and confident vocals combined to deliver an assured depiction.

Oliver Warbucks was played with distinction, capturing both the commanding presence and self-assured confidence of a wealthy and powerful businessman. As the story developed, moments of warmth and tenderness emerged naturally, adding depth to the character and making his relationship with Annie particularly believable.

Grace was bought to life as a highly competent and loyal secretary, always attentive to the needs of Oliver Warbucks. She carried out the role with poise, bringing warmth and assurance to the character. Her strong vocals further enhanced an excellent characterisation.

Rooster was presented with plenty of energy and confidence, capturing the character’s cunning and opportunistic nature throughout. Strong characterisation and stage presence brought the role to life, resulting in a convincing and well-rounded performance.

Lily St Regis delivered an intentionally exaggerated characterisation that suited the role well and was very well judged. Strong use of body language and movement helped to define the character clearly, adding energy and presence throughout.

Bert Healy was presented with an abundance of charisma and stage presence. It was an impressive and charming portrayal, demonstrating a strong understanding of the role. He was immensely engaging on stage, radiating warmth with his constant smile and delivering ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed’ with infectious energy.

President Roosevelt was portrayed with control and clarity. His stage presence was controlled and purposeful, allowing the character to come across as composed and authoritative. His scenes were delivered with conviction and added strength to the production as a whole.

The ensemble of orphaned children from the New York City Orphanage was an absolute highlight, bursting with energy, precision, and infectious enthusiasm. Their performance of ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’ was electric, with strong vocals, sharp choreography, and impressive unity that made the number exciting and thoroughly engaging to watch. A special mention must go to Molly, whose adorable characterisation and perfectly timed gestures brought constant smiles. Pepper also impressed with expressive reactions, while Duffy, July, Tessie, Kate and Dotty all played their parts with real enthusiasm.

I loved the Boylan Sisters’ harmonies in the radio scene during ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,’ which were beautifully blended and well suited to the number. Their delivery was polished and engaging, further enhanced by stylish and eye-catching costumes that added to the overall impact of the scene.

All other characters and ensemble members played a significant part in the success of the show, contributing to a lively, well-balanced and thoroughly enjoyable show from start to finish. The overall standard was consistently high, with each performer adding something valuable to the stage. A few special mentions are especially worth noting: Bundles was a particular delight, bringing great character and presence to the role, while Cecile’s vocals in ‘NYC’ were absolutely stunning, standing out as a real highlight of the evening.

Last but certainly not least, Sandy, played by Brodie, was an absolute delight. Beautifully well-behaved on stage, he added real charm and warmth to the production and was a constant source of affection from the audience. A much-loved presence throughout, Sandy was the perfect finishing touch to a thoroughly enjoyable show.

The costumes and makeup were perfectly suited to the era and style of the show, contributing strongly to the overall visual impact. I particularly liked Annie’s dresses, while Lily’s pink outfit also stood out for its boldness and character. The ensemble of orphans were well dressed throughout, and the costumes for the maids and servants were equally well realised. It was an impressive and wide-ranging wardrobe that reflected a huge amount of work from the costume team and added significantly to the success of the production.

The sound and lighting design throughout was highly professional, with the central staging particularly well-lit and effectively drawing focus to the action. The use of projections on the main stage backdrop was also a strong feature, adding atmosphere and visual interest that enhanced the overall presentation. There were, however, a few moments where microphone issues meant that some lines were difficult to hear, resulting in parts of the dialogue being missed. Overall, despite these occasional technical difficulties, the performance values remained strong and the visual presentation was of a very high standard.

There were many delightful moments throughout the evening. To name just a few, ‘Tomorrow’ was sung beautifully by Annie, with Sandy adding plenty of charm to the number. I particularly enjoyed ‘I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here’, where the coordination and choreography were exceptionally well executed, with everyone moving in perfect synchronisation. The transition from the orphanage to Mr Warbucks’ mansion was also very cleverly staged and worked extremely well. ‘Easy Street’ was another highlight, with Miss Hannigan, Rooster and Lily delivering the number with great energy and lively choreography. I also thoroughly enjoyed Miss Hannigan’s rendition of ‘Little Girls’, which was enhanced by excellent characterisation throughout.

The direction, choreography, and singing in this show were strong from start to finish, making for a highly impressive and cohesive performance. The company worked together seamlessly, with clear confidence and commitment throughout, and the energy on stage was consistently positive, with performers fully engaged in their routines and delivering with accuracy and assurance. Well done to Louise and Jessamy for a highly successful show, with their direction and choreography helping to shape a strong, confident production.

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