Blackpool Winter Gardens – until Saturday 9 September 2023
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
Annie has landed at the Winter Gardens Blackpool and will be showing until Saturday 9th September.
This production is based on the book by Thomas Meehan, presented by Exposition Productions and Ramin Sabi and directed by Nikolai Foster.
As Annie is a nostalgic film from me, I was really looking forward to seeing how this was portrayed on the stage and the only word I can say is WOW. Just everything was beyond my imagination and will be classed as one if not the best show that I have seen for a while.
The story is set in 1930’s New York great depression and tells the story of and extraordinary and brave young orphan named Annie who has spent a life of misery in an orphanage ran by gin loving Miss Hannigan where she has been forced to clean and sew.
One thing that makes Annie stand out amongst the other children is her belief that her parents are still alive and will return one day to take her away. She has a locket and note that she keeps close to her heart which gives her the courage to keep going.
Fortunately for her, the famous billionaire Oliver Warbucks decides to have an orphan spend a fairy-tale two weeks of Christmas with him and ends up being captivated with the enigmatic Annie and decides to adopt her, however Annie is still living with the hope of finding her parents so Mr Warbucks decides that he will use his contacts in the FBI and White House to finder her parents with the offer of $50,000 as a reward.
This attracts the attention of con artists Rooster, Lily, and the wicked Miss Hannigan (sister to Rooster) who hatch a plan to impersonate Annie’s parents as Miss Hannigan has the other half of the locket.
Luckily, the plot is foiled but with the unfortunate news from President Roosevelt that Annie’s real parents died many years ago. Thankfully this classical family musical does have a happy ending for Annie, Daddy Warbucks, and the whole gang.
This production starred Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan, Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks, Amelia Adams as Grace Farrell, Paul French as Rooster, Billie-Kay as Lily, Zoe Akinyosade as Annie (the star of the show) with the support of an incredible cast. Their voices can only be described as out of this world and along with their acting talents created such a presence on stage with a standing ovation at the end.
Annie features two terrific hours with well-known numbers including Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow, Little Girls and many more.
The production also needs special thanks to Colin Richmond for creating such an adaptable set and for the authentic costumes, Richard Brooker for the wonderful sound, Ben Cracknell for the dazzling lighting and Nick Winston for the streamlined choreography.