Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until Saturday 4 May 2019
Reviewed By Jo Gordon
5*****
I’m not going to lie, I have probably been a little too over excited for the past few weeks about seeing this stage production of Annie. Having been a huge fan of the 1982 film version when my 6 year old self annoyed my Mom with constant renditions of Tomorrow and Hard knock Life…with a Blackcountry twang rather than a New York one!
The red headed, optimistic orphan Annie (Freya Yates) and friends (Team Rockefella) are living in a run down orphanage come sweat shop run by the brash, drunken and mean Miss Hannigan (Craig Revel Horwood). Christmas is approaching and Billionaire Warbucks (Alex Bourne) sends his assistant to the home to find an orphan to come and stay at his mansion for the festive period. On arriving, Annie begins to change Warbucks outlook on life and he’d like to make it a more permanent stay. After explaining that she hopes her parents will come for her one day Warbucks helps Annie try to find them using an offer of a reward if they come forward…. this in turn brings out all sorts of unscrupulous people including Hannigan’s brother and his girlfriend Rooster and Lily (Richard Meek, Jenny Gayner). Will things end badly for all involved or will Annie live happily ever after?
Freya’s version of Annie was perfect hitting the mark with everything we love about the character and incredibly talented to be able to make all those high notes every time in show favourites such as the infamous Tomorrow, definitely one to watch as a future west end star!
Craig portrays the child hating, gin swilling, whistle blowing Hannigan perfectly and his rendition of Little Girls conveys the hatred for her charges spot, on with great comedic timing throughout the show alongside Alex’s brilliant Daddy Warbucks, the other orphans this evening(team Rockefella) and co it really is the complete theatrical package. The biggest star though judging from the audiences reaction was Sandy the dog (Amber) who never missed he cue! I would give this production six stars if I could.
Many dislike Annie for varied reasons but its proven longevity from its days first on stage in 1977 must mean something as it constantly gains new fans generation after generation. And I for one will always love it and now that love has been reignited I now have my own family to delight or annoy with my Blackcountry twanged renditions of Tomorrow…and I’m not even sorry!