What a fabulous, uplifting start to the week – all thanks to a cute, little, red-haired orphan called Annie, whose story is told in a production of the same name.
A jam-packed Hull New Theatre was the setting on Monday evening for this smash-hit show, which has come direct from London’s West End.
At curtain up, the stage featured metal bedsteads and sparse bedding, in an orphanage run by the drunken, cruel Miss Hannigan (Craig Revel Horwood).
With unkempt hair, make-up, sloppy negligee and a fridge-full of booze, the Strictly Come Dancing star is perfection in the role, bringing much hilarity to proceedings as well as a fine singing voice.
Equally perfect in her role is young Zoe Akinyosade as Annie, who is on stage for over two hours – no mean feat for a nine-year-old. With a crisp, clear speaking voice and a very tuneful singing voice, she brought Annie to life with a maturity beyond her years.
In depression-hit 1930s America, the red-haired orphan, aged 11, believes her real parents will come back for her. And her dream nearly comes true after being selected to spend the Christmas holidays in the home of New York billionaire, Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks (Alex Bourne).
At the risk of repeating myself, Bourne, too, is perfect in his role; his character effortlessly changing from hard-headed businessman to soft and cuddly father figure after meeting Annie. His singing voice was as commanding and as good to listen to, as his speaking voice.
Talking of the singing, the show has plenty of well-known tunes to sing along to, such as It’s The Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and, of course, Tomorrow as in ”the sun’ll come out”.
All accompanied by amazing music emanating from an orchestra front of stage.
Annie finally gets to belong, but not how she has always dreamed of.
Plotting Annie’s possibly fatal downfall is the evil Miss Hannigan, who, along with her crooked brother Rooster (Paul French as a believable baddie), and his “broad” Lily (the equally believable Billie Kay), wants the $50,000 reward Warbucks has offered to find Annie’s real parents.
The “nice” award goes to Warbucks’ loyal secretary, Grace Farrell (the lovely Amelia Adams) and the comedy Oscar on the night must go to David Burrows in his dual role as President Franklin Roosevelt. His wheelchair-bound character was a hoot.
He shares the comedy accolade with Lukin Simmonds, who, as radio announcer Bert Healy was a scream with his non-stop patter, announcing the search for Annie’s parents.
Annie is full of very talented performers, and future stars of the theatre are definitely Annie’s orphan buddies who fought, sang, danced and entertained all night. Alas, space prevents me from naming them all.
And Sandy the dog (Amber) deserves a big juicy bone as a perfectly behaved stray mutt.
The amazing stage setting seamlessly shifts between the shabby orphanage to the billionaire’s mansion, to the mean streets of “Noo York”. Giant jigsaw pieces everywhere, suggest children, yet with a flick of the lights they become the leaves of trees on the streets of the Big Apple.
Costumes, too, change from the rags of the poor to the well-cut suits of the rich, and their staff’s crisp uniforms.
This production is slick, professional and as polished as Daddy Warbucks’ bald pate. A prolonged standing ovation at the end was always a certainty.
Running until Saturday, October 28, 2023; 7.30pm nightly with 2.30pm matinees on Thursday, 26th and Saturday, 28th. Tickets cost from £20. Call (01482) 300306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 23rd October 2023
North West End UK Rating: