Annie

I have watched Annie before, but I forgot just how good a show it is! The showstopping music, set and story all brought Annie’s story to life. Annie is about a young girl determined to find her parents in the wide, sprawling city of New York, however she is stuck in an orphanage sewing and cleaning, under Miss Hannigan's ruthless iron fist. Until one day, Grace Farrell, private secretary to the billionaire Mr. Warbucks, invites Annie to stay with her and Mr. Warbucks for 2 weeks over Christmas and Annie may finally have the chance to meet her parents.

The show brought some humorous moments, some witty and some droll; I couldn’t help but chuckle. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Miss Hannigan and the children, where even the slightest noise from any of the children would give her a headache. It was hilarious when all the children were screaming, laughing, and bouncing on the beds to give Miss Hannigan a headache when she realised that Annie had run away.

I have to applaud the choreography from Nick Winston (From the Heart, Your Lie in April, Bonnie & Clyde) because it was sensational. It was diverse and magical, and I thought that my personal favourite song, It’s a Hard Knock Life, clearly showed how fed up the children were with their situation. The movement was sharp and chaotic but felt so true to the story, and I loved that it showed off the skills of the wonderful child cast.

Speaking of cast, I was thrilled by all their performances. La Voix (Strictly Come Dancing, RuPaul's Drag Race, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie) nailed the resentfulness of the iconic villain Miss Hannigan and embodied the role. Her enthusiasm even made her lose her shoe! La Voix played into moments like these, adding to Miss Hannigan’s drunken demeanor and just showing what a fantastic actress she is. I can’t wait to see what other stage shows she finds herself in, as it would be a joy to watch her grace the stage again.

I also thought that La Voix, Christian Cooper (The Little Mermaid, The Addams Family, Spring Awakening) and Amber Kennedy (Sister Act the Musical, West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) made for the perfect troupe of tyrants. Cooper, who played Rooster, gave the perfect amount of slimy and shady to the character. Alongside Cooper, Kennedy brought seduction and beautiful rhythm to the histrionic character Lily, and two together gave the whole audience shivers.

Watching Alex Bourne (Chicago, The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray) play the wonderful Mr. Warbucks filled me with warmth, especially after the stark contradiction between him and the Hannigan’s. It is hard not to root for Mr. Warbucks throughout this show, because Bourne gave him the sincerest geniality and love for Annie. Mr. Warbuck’s secretary, Grace, also shared a love for Annie, and Tanisha-Mae Brown (Singin’ in the Rain, Brigadoon, Guys and Dolls) was the perfect casting for Grace. With elegance and composure, Brown filled the stage, and I could not get over how strong a vocalist she is. Simply sublime.

And what sort of person would I be if I did not compliment the fantastic group of children that truly made the show what it was; the girls in the orphanage are played by a rotating cast of talented young children, who blew me away with their skill. Tonight’s Annie was simply superb, embracing Annie and sharing her optimism and amazing ability to lift the spirits in a room. All the children were brilliant and clearly threw themselves into the show. Their acting, singing and dancing were all outstanding, and they should be so proud of themselves.

All round a first-class cast, and I cannot wait to see where they go next.

You cannot leave this show disappointed; it was phenomenal. The cast is terrific, the music is triumphant, the set is evocative, the choreography is energetic, and the whole show is spectacular. Everything blends into one to create a supernatural atmosphere that is unforgettable. Annie is only in Manchester until 20^th June, so book tickets now before they’re gone!