Review: Annie @ WMC
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 25th August 2015
Set in 1930s New York during the Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan's orphanage.
Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. But spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie's search.
This week at the Wales Millennium Centre, the joy-inducing story of Annie is brought magically to life by an exceptional cast who dance, sing and act across a wonderful set in charming costumes. The famous songs, which include Hard Knock Life, Maybe, NYC, and, of course, Tomorrow are delivered expertly by the cast, with the children in particular giving knockout performances.
The highlight number, which poignantly delivers the political edge of the American turmoil, is We'd Like To Thank You Herbert Hoover, which highlights the ingenuity and skilful complexity of the choreography, the set and lighting design, and the direction of the piece, all culminating in a truly atmospheric introduction to the poverty in 1930s America as well as the deep resentment the citizens hold for the president who got them into such abject poverty.
The cast is excellent across the board, with particular mention going to Madeleine Haynes, who plays Annie, proving that size really doesn't matter, and that even the youngest can outshine the adult counterparts. As the production seems to boast about Craig Revel Horwood's participation, it seems only right that we focus on his performance as well.
Horwood makes a suitable Miss Hannigan, certainly bringing her sinister nature to life well, and though his singing and dancing are very good, he only manages to impress during his solo numbers due to the fact that he is so readily outdone by the other cast members. Indeed, it seems odd to have him take the penultimate curtain call (just before Haynes) given that not only was his role quite a lot smaller when compared to that of Oliver Warbucks (touchingly played by Alex Bourne) and others, but also that his performances wasn't one of the strongest. But that's celebrity culture for you.
Save one missing spotlight during one of the ensemble dance routines, the technical side of the production is very good. The set is very organic, almost a character in itself, allowing natural transitions between scenes as well as being consistently evocative (note the jigsaw-puzzle design - a metaphor for Annie's life) - there's always something to look at and it's always entirely pleasant.
Overall, the production is brilliant and had a considerable number of audience members, this reviewer included, on their feet at the end in rapturous applause. A charming show suitable for the entire family, you can bet your bottom dollar on Annie for a truly memorable night out! (Or save it and spend it on ice cream during the interval.)
Annie is at the Wales Millennium Centre till Saturday 29th August 2015
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