Framed with brightly coloured jigsaw shaped design shapes this was a little confusing until afterwards reading a programme note which said they they represented Annie’s progress to salvation! Anita Dobson’s Miss Hannigan played the part to the hilt singing and dancing in her quest to become the wicked witch of the Municipal Orphanage, Alex Bourne, shaven headed of course as Daddy Warbucks, brought a dignity and gravitas to the role especially effective when he lets Annie into his life.
The set itself, this being a touring production, was designed by Colin Richmond who instead of flying in realistic staircases, Christmas trees and Hooverville a squat for the homeless chose to go for individual set pieces. It falls to Annie played on the opening night by Freya Yates (Ava Smith and Taziva-Faye Katsande playing on other nights) to sow the seed of optimism in the future that President F D Roosevelt (Gary Davis) nurtured in boosting and re-booting the American economy. In his programme note the director draws similarities with the political state of America during the great depression of the 1930s when many people lost everything they had when the banks ran out of money and closed their doors. If all this is the background to this evergreen musical tale how did this production in the hands if director Nikolai Foster fare. (And they might have added, a lot of luck!) So Annie as a musical presents an evening of pure entertainment, a smaltzy plot that tugs at the heart strings, some delightful, tuneful familiar songs, and overall embraces a hope for the future and lets face it everyone could do with a bit of that! Anita Dobson reprises her role as Miss Hannigan in charge of the Municipal Orphanage an institution not too far removed from a Victorian equivalent, well the play is set in 1933 during the depths of the depression. The reason why it has is not difficult to fathom since Little Orphan Annie personifies, in this instance American, aspirational philosophy which decrees that even those who start off with the least advantages in life can rise to the top given a positive attitude and a sunny disposition.
Theatreworld Internet Magazine - ANNIE Book by Thomas Meehan Music by Charles Strouse Lyrics by Martin Charnin Bristol Hippodrome until 23 March 2019 Reviewed by Richard Jones No excuses for reviewing Annie again, a show that first appeared on the New York stage in 1976 and has endured perpetually ever since.
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