Who wouldn’t love the cute red-headed orphan Annie?
Attending as guests at the opening night of the UK
production of Annie – one of the best-loved, family musicals I believe the two
of us were the only people there without knowing a child in the cast – or one
who had auditioned!
Opening at the St James Theatre, Wellington, to rave reviews, some of which said:
- ‘What a show - slick,
boisterous, classy, with excellent performances from the whole cast’ said the
RNZ National reviewer.
- ‘It is a performance that
oozes enjoyment, fun and general positivity,’ said Theatre View. ‘This is
a cast who clearly love the heck outta their work. It's the best method of
escapism since the invention of magazines and island holidays. I feel ten
years old again and possess the same amount of optimism.’
- ‘It’s pure magic.’ Daily Express UK
The show features a host of familiar faces from British TV and
my co-guest often said “oh she’s on XYZ or he’s from ABC’. Leading the cast is
the hilarious star of stage and screen, Hi-de-Hi comedian Su Pollard, who I did
recognise, who is the alcohol-soaked Miss Hannigan, headmistress of the
hard-knock New York City Municipal Orphanage. Playing the kindly billionaire businessman
Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks is David McAlister while the role of former US
President Franklin D Roosevelt is Frazer Hines.
The set and singing (a little loud which distorted the words
for those of us, like me, who didn't know them) were almost outshone by Sandi: everyone’s
eyes were on the dog – a real scene stealer! My fellow guest said on leaving ‘that
song is going to keep repeating on my head’. It didn’t become an earworm for
me, but I’m sure lots of young girls with dreams of the stage will be singing
it into hairbrush microphones over the next few days and weeks.
Annie plays in Wellington until 8th June then in Auckland for a month.
