ANNIE

‘Annie’ is always such a joy to watch – personally I love the music, and to see young performers giving their all.

This particular production of Annie had some excellent performances, good vocal accomplishment and overall had much to commend it.

It is always a shame that a reviewer only gets to see one set of children perform, but I was assured that both sets for this show were equal in all aspects, so well done to you all.

I thought I could detect some differences in the orchestral scoring and tempos, something MD Philip Joslin is good at doing, and which just adds a bit of interest to a well-known and well-worn score!  The overture even got a rousing cheer, which is the first time I have known an overture generate such enthusiasm. 

The set was good on the whole, Hooverville had good props etc – and looked how it should, as did the Cabinet room.

I liked what Matt Clothier did with Daddy Warbucks – it was nice to see someone get away from the stereotypical bald-headed guy, and give us a more sensitive, if slightly bewildered person, not knowing how to cope with a girl!!  However, audiences expect to see the full comic strip version, which is a bald-headed Daddy!  I liked the obvious empathy between him and Annie during Something was Missing, a very touching moment.

Jackie Pulford was a charming Grace – I really felt her feeling for Annie, and liked her portrayal very much, she also got lots of expression into her musical interludes.

Julie Lilley as Miss Hannigan grew on me –I enjoyed what Julie did with the part, and her adverse feeling for her Little Girls!!  However, felt her costume was a little too revealing and her actions slightly too slovenly for a show with a high proportion of youngsters in the audience.

Matthew Collyer and Carole Anne Colford as Rooster and Lily, had a good relationship, the contrast between the sly and arrogant Rooster and the dim-witted Lily was fun.

Easy Street was one of the highlights of the show, as I love the bluesy full-on style, and thought Rooster, Lily and Miss Hannigan gave it their all, with excellent (if overloud) backing from the band – who also obviously enjoyed being able to let rip!

Evie Lilley as Annie in the performance I saw, gave the character a credence, whilst maintaining good relationships with her fellow actors both adult and child.  She sang well, and with expression. 

It was a shame that Molly’s mic failed in Act 1 – but Skyler Koval carried on as if nothing had happened and I think that overall we managed to hear most of the words – a great accomplishment for one so young.

Team Manhattan all performed really well, and made us believe that they were a tight knit group, pulling together in adversity!  Well done all of you.  I liked the slightly different style of choreography for it’s a Hard Knock Life, it was interesting, and well within the girls capabilities. 

Mike Smith was a lovely President Roosevelt – just enough authority but a kindly manner – which lent itself well to the feel of the piece.

The cabinet was full of diverse characters – which was effective.

The radio station was a lively scene – with a very exuberant Charlie Harden as Bert Healy.  I also liked the comic touches of the too high mic for Shaun Phillips as  Fred McCracken and Wacky, it just added a bit more humour. 

There were some nice characters created within the ensemble, for both Hooverville and the Mansion staff.  

Tony Bradburn gave us a nice portrayal of Drake, just the right combination of stuffiness and wry humour, whilst Rosemary O’Toole and Jeanne Cavill gave us good performances as Mrs Greer and Mrs Pugh.  Beth Rufey and Kate Palmer created very upbeat and well-defined roles as Cecille and Annette.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the production, there were excellent performances, and super band and musical accomplishment, which won out over the technical concerns.

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