Based on Little Orphan Annie, a 1920s comic strip, Annie’s eponymous character beats Les Mis’ Cosette for musical theatre’s favourite orphan. An instant hit on opening in 1977, to this day as Annie opens at the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff, the show is constantly referenced in other media, including Austin Powers and Friends to name but two.
Set in Great Depression-era New York, 11-year-old Annie lives in an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. When billionaire Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks enters the picture, Hannigan’s dodgy brother, Rooster, realises they might be able to use the situation to their crooked advantage.
As confessed previously, this reviewer is not a fan of children singing (albeit something Matilda has gone some way to solve), so apart from being a musical to tick off the list, what’s the draw with Annie as it arrives in Cardiff? Miss Hannigan is an iconic role played by established comic and theatre stars, like Carol Burnett in the 1982 film version: for this production, Paul O’Grady was set to step into her shoes before his death in April. Consequently, Strictly judge Craig Revel-Horwood plays an oddly attractive Miss Agatha Hannigan.
Revel-Horwood is captivating as the villain of the piece, entering drunk in nightwear displaying his dancer’s legs. His portrayal might echo Divine in Hairspray, in that he’s playing a female part without it being a drag act per se; he doesn’t feminise his voice either, his Miss Hannigan sounding like she smokes 50 a day. And Revel-Horwood can dance, of course, even after two hip replacements; he’s in good voice too, and clearly having fun – even if my friend and I, while watching, both felt slightly sad that we’d never get to see O’Grady in the role.
The kids are good – sometimes too good (but that’s a me problem; this show is not going to cure me of my aversion to sugary child acting). The Monday night showing saw Zoe Akinyosade as Annie, singing Tomorrow with aplomb. Paul French is suitably slimy as Rooster, and Easy Street, with Revel-Horwood, is a standout number.
When one considers Annie’s origins as political satire, this musical makes no sense. Franklin Roosevelt turns up, like some presidential Father Christmas, and solves the problem at hand with help from the mighty FBI. Knowing Harold Gray, the writer of the original comic strip, hated Roosevelt, what is the musical adaption supposed to be saying? I suppose that ought not matter: don’t think too deep, just sit back and enjoy the razzle-dazzle as the band, led by Joshua Griffiths adds a brassy Broadway score to an enjoyable touring production.
Annie, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Mon 3 July
On until Sat 8 July. Tickets: £18-£81. Info: here
words CHRIS WILLIAMS