Jane McGowan enjoys a fresh new production of a musical classic...
OUR VERDICT
On an exceptionally wet Woking night, the audience were undoubtedly hoping that the ‘sun’ll come out tomorrow’ and if there’s one show that can warm the soggiest of spirits, it’s Annie.
The tale of the red-haired orphan whose plucky spirit not only charms billionaire Oliver Warbucks but also US President Franklin D Roosevelt is universally cherished. While the songs: Tomorrow, It’s A Hard Knock Life, Maybe and Easy Street, sit high on the musical theatre chart. It’s one of the most performed shows – from theatre school groups and am-dram to West End and touring productions – and give a take a new dance routine or two, largely remains closed to alternative interpretations.
However, this production does have something just a little bit out of the ordinary in the shape of Miss Hannigan, who is played by Strictly’s Mr Nasty - Craig Revel Horwood. The audience applauded as he made his entrance as the gin-soaked, loveless keeper of the orphans and on the whole, he does well. His singing is surprisingly good, and he belted out his two big numbers with aplomb. His dancing too was slick and sharp - although the numbers weren’t exactly taxing. However, I felt his acting wasn’t quite up to the mark. It was sometimes hard to make out what he was saying amid the trademark elongated vowels and the ultra-nasal New York accent. The character seemed to be played as merely a grotesque, there was no attempt to imbue any warmth into the woman for whom love and life has passed by and whose only comfort is a bottle of gin. This, of course, may be down to the direction, but it seemed a shame to have opted for more panto villain while altogether ignoring Hannigan’s desperate melancholy.
While Mr Revel Horwood undoubtedly sells out auditoriums, it’s the orphans who really drive this show. And last night’s team did not disappoint. Their big numbers – the bucket-banging It’s a Hard Knock Life and the toe-tapping You’re Never Fully Dressed were definite highlights. The girls giving it everything they had amid some clever choreography that allowed them to shine not only as an ensemble but also as individual characters.
Freya Yates is one of three Annies on this tour, presenting us with a pragmatic and sensible Annie, avoiding the Shirley Temple goody-two-shoes trap by a clear mile. Her likeable, no-nonsense orphan hit every note of her big numbers, but why producers insist of having these unquestionably talented children sing entire songs through their noses is beyond me. I think this is one Annie tradition that could easily be ditched.
The ensemble is a joy and works very hard, appearing back-to-back as residents of Hooverville, uptown New Yorkers and Warbucks’ jolly servants. Carolyn Maitland as Oliver Warbucks’ overlooked assistant Grace Farrell stood out not only thanks to her assured vocals but for the warmth and truth of her performance.
Annie is without question a great show – each song is a winner and despite its popularity and familiarity, there is scope to re-invent and reimagine. However, on this occasion, I don’t think that just having Craig Revel Horwood in drag is enough.