REVIEW: Annie

© Paul Coltas

A family-favourite musical comedy returns to the West Midlands in a touring production that is delighting audiences and packing out theatres in Ireland and the UK.

Annie is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.

Annie originally premiered on Broadway in 1977 and was later adapted into a film in 1982 which was helmed by legendary director John Huston and starred Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters and Tim Curry.

The much-loved musical continues to inspire filmmakers and an updated version was brought to life in Hollywood in 2014 which starred Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz.

The Tony award-winning stage show is set during The Great Depression and deals with themes that include poverty, homelessness and the cost of living crisis which will strike a poignant chord with a contemporary audience.

The story opens at a seedy and decrepit orphanage run by a seemingly cold-hearted and stern woman called Miss Hannigan. She rules with an iron fist and if any of the girls under her charge dare to step out of line the punishments are dire and cruel. One little orphan named Annie dares to break out of the daily Dickensian routine of soul-breaking work and cruelty and make her dreams come true.

Annie’s emotional journey, and her joyfully positive outlook despite her desperately sad circumstances, inspires her friends - and those who come into her life - towards a more optimistic way forward during challenging times.

The story of the adventures of Annie will be familiar to fans and they will be flocking to the theatre to see how the cast and crew of this new production recreate the beloved characters of the show.

Drag icon La Voix (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Strictly Come Dancing) breathes fresh new life into the role of Miss Hannigan. There’s a mixture of pathos and diabolical passion in her sensational performance. La Voix embraces the conflicted character of Miss Hannigan and takes real joy in taking part in the energetic dance routines choreographed by Nick Winston.     

La Voix is no pantomime dame, she invests real time and effort into producing a witty and three-dimensional character who makes the audience feel Miss Hannigan’s inner turmoil. She also employs comedy and poignancy to get the audience to side and root for Miss Hannigan by the climax of the show.

La Voix is an accomplished singer and her vocals in the song numbers are a special highlight which had the audience singing and clapping along.

All of the catchy songs of this timeless musical are here including well-known hits such as It’s a Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow, Little Girls, Maybe, Easy Street, and I Don’t Need Anything But You.

The rest of the cast in this show, directed with verve and style by Nikolai Foster, are very talented indeed and deliver memorable and heartfelt performances.

Colin Richmond's costume and set designs, and Ben Cracknell's lighting design, also help to bring the show vividly to life.

Annie is a slick, lyrical and uplifting show which revels in the power of love and dreams during dark and difficult times.

Verdict: ★★★★

Annie is running at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham until Saturday 6^th June