Annie

This really is a feelgood night out - a true feelgood musical, an enthusiastic cast, kids and animals on stage and an auditorium packed with families having fun.

I must say I wasn't looking forward to Annie that much, last time I saw it (not this production I hasten to add) it was workman-like but a bit dull and when the slightly over-amplified children's chorus started at the beginning of the show I did wonder if my ears would take the strain - but this is not a lack-lustre production by any means. The chorus, kids and adults alike, work hard to put the show over - they may have done it dozens, even hundreds, of times but they still managed to make it fresh and alive - well, I have to say that Danny the Dog was jumping his cues a bit but after 7 years on the road we can perhaps forgive that!

Roger Hannah's production is spot on. For the first time I actually got that this is a "comic strip on stage", it is actually meant to have a slightly episodic, 2-dimensional, over-bright feel to it to reflect Annie's origin in print.

Su Pollard's Miss Hannigan is suitably wicked (in a musical comedy kind of a way) with Su showing her flair for both song and slapstick as well as one of the shortest nighties this musical has probably ever seen on stage! Lydia Tunstall played Annie on the night we saw it - this is a big part for a small actress and she carried it off without a hitch. David McAlister's Warbucks was just perfect in look and tone and although the kids may boo Rooster I found James Gavin's performance to be most memorable; enthusiasm, precision and a real feel for the part.

Watch out for the Boylen Sisters at the beginning of the second act, I got a real smile from their "synchronised boredom" and Simone Craddock's costumes are fab. Any downside? Probably just that over-amplification, but then I was sat right in front of a speaker ;-)

An unexpectedly enjoyable evening well worth a family trip!