Annie was originally inspired by the comic strip Little Orphan Annie, and the musical is about Annie growing up in ’30s New York during the Depression, living a life of misery in Miss Hannigan’s ghastly orphanage. “It’s A Hard Knock Life”, “Tomorrow” and “Easy Street” are the best known songs. It has gained well deserved adoration and fame as a favourite, since the original 70’s productions (and of course, the popular film). The storyline isn’t the strongest and yes, some of the script verges on over sentimental, but the ‘overall’ easily makes up for this. Miranda Hart does brilliantly and will no doubt gain further strength (my viewing was after only seven initial preview performances)- inspired by previous roles by Sheila Hancock, Sue Pollard and Lily Savage. ALL the others perform to the highest standard, delivering the harmony, pulse and vitality required for this type of musical and the choreography already reaches new heights. Annie (they share between three of them) is well up to the others in the power of her presentation (and the fascination with how she copes so easily on stage with Amber, a well- trained labrador). One piece does stay in my mind particularly, which is where the six ‘kids’ do their own song and dance on their own, without Annie- each one has enormous personality and skill, which helps to appreciate Annie even more. All credit to this production then- great entertainment from beginning to end. Miranda Hart sums it up nicely: “I have a newly found musical theatre-esque spring in my step! I hope people will leave the theatre feeling life is a little better and dreamier and jollier after watching it, as much as we feel that performing it. “
