Annie January 2012

marvellous fun
here's what I said for Sydney Arts Guide 
http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=922

Siena Elchaar, Anthony Warlow, Alan Jones and Todd Goddard in ANNIE. Pic Jeff Busby

Leapin' lizards folks, this show will have you dancing in the aisles.What an amazing way to start a year of theatre going with this incredibly fresh,vibrant major revival of this mega musical with a stunning cast of Australian theatrical legends. There have been two other major productions of Annie , in 1978 and 2000 .

Set in New York City at Christmas 1933 this is a joyous feel good musical based on the much loved comic strip. It tells the rags to riches story of an eleven year old  orphan, Annie,abandoned as a baby, who somehow survives life in an appalling orphanage -under the mismanagement of Miss Hannigan- and ends up being adopted by a billionaire, Oliver Warbucks.

There is lots of social and political comment - we see the extremes of terrible poverty and the effects of the Depression -for example the orphanage and especially the homeless Hooverville Annie finds herself at one stage in - which is all contrasted with the lavish understated opulence of the Warbucks mansion.

The show begins cinematically with the use of cgi and projections - we start with an aerial view of New York and gradually pan and get closer and closer until we end up at the state Orphanage.

The late much lamented maestro Kristian Fredrickson's glorious costume designs are mostly grey/black and white for the poverty stricken, bright and colourful for Warbucks ' entourage and outside characters like the US Cabinet. The designs for Grace's dresses are particularly ravishing.

Pre-order the cast CD now - under the tremendous direction of Peter Casey musically the show scintillates and the cast is in glorious voice.

The cast is magnificent all round .There is some doubling/tripling of roles (as Warbucks staff,police, Hoovervillites,etc ) for the ensemble.

Nancye Hayes as Miss Hannigan , the whistle blowing , tormented and tormenting , over rouged , dipsomaniac , stressed head of the Orphanage, is superb and obviously having a whale of a time. You can see the psychological breakdown in 'Little Girls' , where she destroys a doll.

Australian favourite dapper, debonair  leading man Anthony Warlow is glorious as Oliver Warbucks.Perfect for the role he is in sensational voice and we see the change from cold, harried billionaire only concerned about his business and money to caring, would be father.

As his secretary Grace Farrell, elegant and super efficient, Julie Goodwin  is lovely and  just right.

The wicked 'Rooster' ( Ralph) Hannigan - so called because he crows like Peter Pan- and Lily St. Regis his girlfriend are brilliantly played by rubbery ex THE BOY FROM OZ Todd McKenny and the deliciously long legged Chloe Dallimore. Both are in dazzling ,magnificent form and stop the show with their rendition of  'Easy Street'. Their cynical evilness is rather glossed over.

The exuberant cast of orphan girls is delightful - excellent ensemble work and beautiful voices . Siena  Elchaar as Annie is magnificent - a glorious performance and she sings 'Tomorrow ' and 'Maybe' sensationally.

Radio shock jock Alan Jones is excellent as a beaming ,genial FDR.

And I mustn't forget the wonderful dog Sandy (played by Coogee).

Choreographically Kelly Aykers work is terrific .I was reminded a bit of the recent Matthew Bourne 'Mary Poppins' and there are allusions to 'Guys and Dolls' especially in 'NYC'.There are some extremely exciting huge production numbers especially for example 'Hooverville' and 'A New Deal for Christmas '. It is also much fun to see the backstage at the NBC Radio recording studio in Act 2 including the Boylan Sister's ' You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile'. And there are some delightful 'in-jokes' with the paintings Warbucks has installed in his gallery -Da Vinci's , Holbeins, Gainsborough ,Monets etc .and even possibly a Picasso.

While yes the show can be regarded as very dated and cloyingly saccharine sweet, the message of hope and optimism still carries through and is relevant to today.    

A marvelous must see musical for all the family.Don't miss it.

Karen Johnson Mortimer's production of ANNIE opened at the Lyric theatre, Star City on Thursday 6th January and is presently booking well into February, 2012.    

(c) Lynne Lancaster

6th January, 2012

Tags: SYDNEY PLAY OF THE WEEK, Sydney Theatre Reviews, ANNIE, Lyric Theatre Star City, Karen Johnson Mortimer, Anthony Warlow, Nancy Hayes, Todd McKenney, Chloe Dallimore, Alan Jones, Julie Goodwin, Jack Webster, Kelly Ayers, Peter Casey, Alan Jones, Siena Elchaar, Todd Goddard, Jeff Busby.