Photo credit: Paul Coltas
ANNIE
starring Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
3rd to 8th August 2015
starring Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
3rd to 8th August 2015
The first thing that strikes me as I take my seat on the opening night of Annie, is the impressive set surrounded with large randomly placed jigsaw pieces. The sounds of a radio with the newsreader reporting the news of the day crackles out from the speakers giving a very clear indication of the time period that this show is set in. Two rows of beds are set within this frame.
It is of course 1930s New York a time of major hardship for the country. A time where nearly fifteen million people were out of work and nearly a third of the country's firms had gone into liquidation. Half the country's banks had run out of money and people were desperately trying to piece their lives back together. The jigsaw pieces of the set indicating this point perhaps and more importantly, the pieces of Annie’s life which will need to be put together. The beds are of course the beds of the orphans who reside at the clutches of arch villainess, the grotesque drunkard Miss Hannigan, matron of the Municipal Girls Orphanage.
From the moment Annie, played by young Madeleine Haynes, begins to sing the opening number, 'Maybe', you know you are in for a treat. Hard Knock Life, which Annie and the orphans sing together is especially rousing and by the time Annie sings the classic number, ‘Tomorrow’ with the adorable Sandy (Amber the dog), by her side, I think the whole of the audience have been completely won over. This Annie, unlike the film version that I saw many years ago in 1982, is much grittier - sure she’s cute but in a loveable, realistic, cheeky way rather than a sugar sweet Shirley Temple way that most of us will associate with the role of Annie. Madeleine Haynes is absolutely enchanting.
Director, Nikolai Foster, has taken this saccharine soaked musical and given it a realism that is befitting of a modern day audience. The girls playing the orphans portray very natural and truthful performances, with not even one flicker of a stage school jazz hand threatening to make an appearance. Yes, the songs are exactly the same but Foster has chosen a cast that can do something just as brilliantly as singing and dancing - they can act. All of them. So many times I go to see a musical and as much as the cast can belt out a number, a lot of the time the acting lets the whole show down. With this production, that is certainly not the case.
Another touring production ‘gimmick’ these days seems to necessitate a celebrity appearance, presumably to boost audience numbers and this show is no different. However, Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan has clearly done his homework and completely embodies the character of the nasty orphanage matron. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I would have happily accepted that this was an actual woman. I was concerned that with a man playing the part, he may have been tempted to ‘pantomime dame’ it up but thankfully not so. Strictly fans won't be disappointed; I particularly enjoyed Easy Street, the number he performs with Rooster and Lily played by the delightfully evil, Jonny Fines and Djalenga Scott, and would never have believed that he'd had a hip replacement just last October! And - he can sing - ‘Little Girls’ isn’t the easiest number to carry off but he does it fantastically well.
Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks, the billionaire businessman who opens his home and eventually his heart to Annie is played by a wonderful Alex Bourne. Alex has really made the part his own with some lovely touches which really endear us to his character. By the time Annie has completely won him over, ‘Something was Missing’ becomes one of the most touching and heartfelt numbers of the show. Holly Dale Spencer played the part of Grace Farrell beautifully.
The fabulous ensemble have just the right amount of pizzazz and one of my favourite numbers was ‘NYC’ which has a delightful Broadway style to it and I particularly enjoyed the tap dancing sailors. Another great ensemble piece is ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile’ which begins with the brilliantly staged, Bert Healy Radio Show and transitions to the orphans on their sewing machines in a wonderfully choreographed number. Nick Winston’s choreography certainly gives this show a modern, current edge which today’s audiences will relate to.
Orphan Annie may only be 11 years old and will certainly appeal to audiences of similar ages; but this touring production has been given a more ‘grown up’ edge to it that I believe makes it more watchable for audiences of all ages. Many of the touring productions we see at The Cliffs Pavilion have come directly from the West End. This production, with its opening night standing ovation, has exactly what it takes to end up in the West End.
It is of course 1930s New York a time of major hardship for the country. A time where nearly fifteen million people were out of work and nearly a third of the country's firms had gone into liquidation. Half the country's banks had run out of money and people were desperately trying to piece their lives back together. The jigsaw pieces of the set indicating this point perhaps and more importantly, the pieces of Annie’s life which will need to be put together. The beds are of course the beds of the orphans who reside at the clutches of arch villainess, the grotesque drunkard Miss Hannigan, matron of the Municipal Girls Orphanage.
From the moment Annie, played by young Madeleine Haynes, begins to sing the opening number, 'Maybe', you know you are in for a treat. Hard Knock Life, which Annie and the orphans sing together is especially rousing and by the time Annie sings the classic number, ‘Tomorrow’ with the adorable Sandy (Amber the dog), by her side, I think the whole of the audience have been completely won over. This Annie, unlike the film version that I saw many years ago in 1982, is much grittier - sure she’s cute but in a loveable, realistic, cheeky way rather than a sugar sweet Shirley Temple way that most of us will associate with the role of Annie. Madeleine Haynes is absolutely enchanting.
Director, Nikolai Foster, has taken this saccharine soaked musical and given it a realism that is befitting of a modern day audience. The girls playing the orphans portray very natural and truthful performances, with not even one flicker of a stage school jazz hand threatening to make an appearance. Yes, the songs are exactly the same but Foster has chosen a cast that can do something just as brilliantly as singing and dancing - they can act. All of them. So many times I go to see a musical and as much as the cast can belt out a number, a lot of the time the acting lets the whole show down. With this production, that is certainly not the case.
Another touring production ‘gimmick’ these days seems to necessitate a celebrity appearance, presumably to boost audience numbers and this show is no different. However, Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan has clearly done his homework and completely embodies the character of the nasty orphanage matron. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I would have happily accepted that this was an actual woman. I was concerned that with a man playing the part, he may have been tempted to ‘pantomime dame’ it up but thankfully not so. Strictly fans won't be disappointed; I particularly enjoyed Easy Street, the number he performs with Rooster and Lily played by the delightfully evil, Jonny Fines and Djalenga Scott, and would never have believed that he'd had a hip replacement just last October! And - he can sing - ‘Little Girls’ isn’t the easiest number to carry off but he does it fantastically well.
Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks, the billionaire businessman who opens his home and eventually his heart to Annie is played by a wonderful Alex Bourne. Alex has really made the part his own with some lovely touches which really endear us to his character. By the time Annie has completely won him over, ‘Something was Missing’ becomes one of the most touching and heartfelt numbers of the show. Holly Dale Spencer played the part of Grace Farrell beautifully.
The fabulous ensemble have just the right amount of pizzazz and one of my favourite numbers was ‘NYC’ which has a delightful Broadway style to it and I particularly enjoyed the tap dancing sailors. Another great ensemble piece is ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile’ which begins with the brilliantly staged, Bert Healy Radio Show and transitions to the orphans on their sewing machines in a wonderfully choreographed number. Nick Winston’s choreography certainly gives this show a modern, current edge which today’s audiences will relate to.
Orphan Annie may only be 11 years old and will certainly appeal to audiences of similar ages; but this touring production has been given a more ‘grown up’ edge to it that I believe makes it more watchable for audiences of all ages. Many of the touring productions we see at The Cliffs Pavilion have come directly from the West End. This production, with its opening night standing ovation, has exactly what it takes to end up in the West End.
WHAT THE AUDIENCE THOUGHT
Danni (centre) with grandparents Julie & Steve
Julie & Steve, Canvey Island
"We thought it was a brilliant show. Annie was our favourite character in it, she was so powerful. We couldn't believe how tall Craig Revel Horwood was in real life!"
Danni, aged 9, Chafford Hundred
"My favourite musical is Shrek The Musical and this is just as good. I loved Annie and the dog, Sandy. All of it was really good. I'd love to be an actress one day. I belong to Street Dance and have done shows with them before!"
"We thought it was a brilliant show. Annie was our favourite character in it, she was so powerful. We couldn't believe how tall Craig Revel Horwood was in real life!"
Danni, aged 9, Chafford Hundred
"My favourite musical is Shrek The Musical and this is just as good. I loved Annie and the dog, Sandy. All of it was really good. I'd love to be an actress one day. I belong to Street Dance and have done shows with them before!"
Leanne, Wendy & Naomi
Leanne Richards, 22, Shoeburyness
"I played one of the orphans in a school production and this brought back lots of memories. I loved the NYC number and the choreography was great. Holly Dale Spencer as Grace stood out the most for me. I loved the tap dancing too."
Wendy Anderson, Shoeburyness
"I love coming to see shows with my daughter (Naomi). I used to do am dram when I was younger and it's great to relive my past watching shows with her."
Naomi Anderson, 22, Hockley
"I thought the show was really good. Annie was amazing, Craig Revel Horwood was amazing. I loved that he can dance in heels - I can't even do that! The tap number was great and the dog was really cute."
"I played one of the orphans in a school production and this brought back lots of memories. I loved the NYC number and the choreography was great. Holly Dale Spencer as Grace stood out the most for me. I loved the tap dancing too."
Wendy Anderson, Shoeburyness
"I love coming to see shows with my daughter (Naomi). I used to do am dram when I was younger and it's great to relive my past watching shows with her."
Naomi Anderson, 22, Hockley
"I thought the show was really good. Annie was amazing, Craig Revel Horwood was amazing. I loved that he can dance in heels - I can't even do that! The tap number was great and the dog was really cute."