Annie

This was the third show in succession I have seen this season featuring a large cast of children, showing how essential it is nowadays to choose shows where a ready audience can be assured. “Annie” is a popular musical with Societies for precisely that reason and for the fact that it has a grand script and well known music. The leading role Annie was shared during the run between Jessica Sharp and Erin Rutherford and it was the former I saw on the Friday evening I attended when she gave a very accomplished performance. Colette Dunsmore gave a good portrayal of the sad and raddled Miss Hannigan, guardian of the Orphanage but Fiona Currie provided a bright contrast as Grace Farrell, secretary to millionaire Oliver Warbucks. Aaron Mooney played a comfortable and relaxed Warbucks and a nice piece of casting was Robert Fyfe as Franklin D Roosevelt. The house staff were neatly cast with Andrew Cheek as Drake, the Butler and Fiona Douglas as Mrs Pugh, the housekeeper. The roles of the villains Rooster Hannigan and Lily St Regis were taken by Colin Mcdonald and Courtney Smith and their unmasking and the debunking of Miss Hannigan provided the highly satisfying ending to the show. All of the other principals were well suited to their roles.  The cast was completed by the usual chorus and two sets of chorus Orphans, each set of around 25 players participating in four performances – which in itself required considerable organisational expertise. As always, the production of the show had many admirable points of detail and the orchestra was of the usual high standard.

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