I was very excited to be visiting Venue Cymru in North Wales, a theatre close to my own heart having grown up just a stones throw away, and to watch the much-loved musical production of ‘Annie’ which I had fond memories of appearing in myself many a moon ago. Add to this the stellar cast, the warm balmy evening and the audience eagerly building up a wonderful ambience, I had a feeling I was in for a good time! Indeed I was, as this all-singing, all-dancing production had me glued to that Welsh stage from the off! From the 5 star set, credit to Colin Richmond, to the jazzy lighting, beautifully designed by Ben Cracknell, and slickly performed musical numbers ‘Annie’ is a real treat for all ages, a perfect tonic for the soul and with a wonderful feel-good factor after watching it.
The story of Annie is a well known one and this production is a mammoth undertaking but one that is performed with great enthusiasm and professionalism. It's glossy, 'high end' and you are aware you are watching something good. When entering the auditorium you see the orphans making their way onto the stage and into their beds, and so the story begins...
It’s 1933, the Depression and 11 year old Annie played in this performance by the very talented Taziva-Faye Katsande is living in the Municipal Orphanage on New York's Lower East Side. Miss Hannigan played by the utterly zany and watchable Craig Revel Horwood, [and who by the way has the most enviable figure,] is the tyrant principal in charge of the orphanage and who also happens to be somewhat of a drunkard. Revel Horwood plays a most entertaining drunk and could have taken the easy route and gone a bit over the top or dare I say it a bit hammy, but in this production he pitches it perfectly. Yes at times he’s incoherent but it’s all part of the wonderful character he portrays.
Annie decides to escape and try to find her parents yet this proves unsuccessful. However, Grace Farrell, played by the excellent Carolyn Maitland and secretary to the millionaire Oliver Warbucks played with the perfect amount of warmth and reservation by Alex Bourne is searching for an orphan that she can invite back to the Warbucks' household to celebrate Christmas. Despite Warbucks' initial disappointment that Grace has not found a boy, he takes to her and begins a nationwide search to try and find the little girl's real parents. Miss Hannigan interferes and primes her brother Rooster played by the cheekily charming Richard Meek and his girlfriend Lily, wonderfully played by the very alluring and also an excellent dancer Jenny Gayner (this was the role I played so it was great to see it performed and brought back many of my own fun memories) to claim Annie as their daughter and thus gain a hefty reward!
Meanwhile Annie is in Washington cheering up the president, Franklin D Roosevelt played by Gary Davis who portrayed a very warm and friendly president. The story then unfolds and you are taken on a wonderful journey that ended up with everyone on their feet at the end and I feel this production definitely deserved its standing ovation. The orphan children (on this occasion Team Chrysler - there are three teams altogether that alternate performances) were excellent and each young actor was to be commended! They performed with real gusto and passion and I cannot fault one of them. Particular stand outs for me were Orla McDonagh who portrayed Molly, if just for her cuteness factor, she was a delight to watch, had a great stage presence and a wonderful comedic timing for one so young. Also Drew Phoebe Hylton (Pepper) for sheer enthusiasm, she was definitely giving it 110% and that’s something I always crave to see in any performance, she looked like she was definitely enjoying herself up there!
So a wonderful night out that I would wholeheartedly recommend for all the family, there were many laughs to be had also, and although Annie is set in the depths of the depression it certainly didn’t feel that way watching it! An utter delight in fact.
‘Annie’ is on at Venue Cymru until 18th May.
Reviewer - Mary Fogg
on - 14/5/19
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