Annie – Alexandra Theatre

No One Cares For You a Smidge When You’re In An Orphanage

Well, that’s the first production of “Annie” I’ve seen that ended with the theme tune to “Blankety Blank” – and for very good and poignant reasons. Read to the end to find out why…

Like the Allied Carpets sale which never ended “Annie” is out on tour as if it were ever not on tour. Endless generations of kids have been weened on the show and the demand never seems to wane. It’s a staunch Broadway warhorse which has been inflicting its schmaltz on unsuspecting and, indeed, suspecting audiences since 1977 when it was wrenched kicking and screaming from a newspaper comic strip and thrust upon the Broadway to wild, unstinting and, it seems, endless acclaim. We gave them “Oliver!” they reupholstered him, changed his sex and gave him back as “Annie.” Annie/Oliver, Miss Hannigan/Fagin, Rooster/Artful Dodger, Daddy Warbucks/Mr. Brownlow. I’ll leave you to complete the list for yourself I’ve got a review to write.

Interestingly we started tonight without an overture. A bold statement from director Nikolai Foster. No whiff of the tunes to come giving us a taster of the score or a warning of the sentiment to follow, perhaps. Straight into dialogue before a lot of the audience and most of the under tens had sat down. The show, of course, can do no wrong and critic’s barbs ping off it like bullets off a tank. Say what I may it’ll still be touring in twenty years time when the original actress playing Annie takes her grandchildren to see it. But what is new is the vibrantly intriguing set by Colin Richmond and bold lighting by Ben Cracknell. Also, there’s a modern veneer of girl power with a strong feminist line up of orphans giving their best Matilda poses. Each giving a unique and endearing performance. And sitting atop them all is Zoe Akinyosade as the title role giving a thoroughly winning performance with a gorgeous voice and a grasp of comedy way beyond her years.

Dave Burrows standing in as Daddy Warbuck with a disappointingly full head of hair held his own against the endearing Annie and played amiably opposite Amelia Adams as Grace Farrell whose exceptional clarity and tone embraced the style of the period with uncanny precision. Paul French was outstanding as Rooster and played perfectly opposite Billie-Kay as Lily. Lukin Simmonds has his hands full as a triple threat in triple roles – Lt. Ward, radio star Bert Healy and the President of America. Due to the billed Daddy Warbucks not appearing everyone moved up one and Bundles and Ikes was played by Matthew Sweet. The dog had no understudy and was played Lily. She was very good.

Miss Hannigan is in the strong hands of Craig Revel-Harwood who is not a natural comic but more than makes up for it in the song and dance numbers. And it’s interesting to see a role usually played a woman played by a man in drag. Which brings us neatly to “Blankety Blank” – Revel-Horwood shared the role of Miss Hannigan not only with two actresses but also with Paul O’Grady who up until just over a week ago played the same role in the same production with the same cast in Edinburgh. One can only imagine what the cast and crew have been through to keep the show going and to maintain the standard they have. And as we filed out after a hoot of agreement when our Miss Hannigan dedicated the show to Paul the band finished the play out with just a few bars of “Blankety Blank,” which cleared away the cobwebs and the sorrow perfectly and poignantly.

Reviewer: Peter Kinnock

Reviewed: 4th April 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★