Review: Annie brings feel-good positivity to Milton Keynes Theatre

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.

It was a nice touch that we’re introduced to the kids before the show formally gets under way as we see them settle down in their beds one evening.

Claire Sweeney plays the wicked head of the orphanage who despises children. She absolutely nailed the character… whether it was trying to seduce any man in her vicinity, treating the children with contempt (such as making them clean floors at 4am), pretending her gin stash was medicine, plotting with her brother Rooster (Christian Cooper) and his girlfriend Lily (Amber Kennedy), or screaming behind a door when Annie had escaped her clutches.

A sprinkling of comedy also lifted proceedings. Set in 1933, Annie had been dropped at the orphanage way back in 1922, but still harboured hopes of her parents returning for her. “Perhaps they’ve got stuck in traffic,” mocked wicked Miss Hannigan.

Sophia Saravanan as Annie gave a confident and powerful performance and her fellow orphans also shone.

You simply couldn’t fault their enthusiasm. The songs were presented with bucketloads of energy, full of fun and great choreography – but frequently (and this wasn’t just an issue with the junior cast members) I felt a significant amount of the lyrics were hard to pick up on. Perhaps it was the forced American accents which grated a bit and didn’t help.

There were some examples where the lyrics were easier to decipher – Easy Street with Miss Hannigan, Rooster and Lily was cleaner, and most of the numbers featuring the impressive Alex Bourne as billionaire Daddy Warbucks were delivered with clarity.

As the plot develops, Annie’s luck soon changes when she's chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with Warbucks, who initially simply wants to boost his public image by giving an orphan a festive treat.

Grace Ferrell (Tanisha-Mae Brown), his personal secretary, turns up at the orphanage and picks Annie – despite Hannigan’s claim the youngster is a drunk and a liar (pot and kettle spring to mind!).

Annie’s positivity rapidly rubs off on Warbucks who sets in motion adoption proceedings – but also agrees to do his best to use his contacts to track down her parents.

One contact is none other than US President Roosevelt and Annie’s attitude even gives the politician and his Cabinet renewed optimism to overcome the trials of the Great Depression.

Despite the previously mentioned misgivings regarding lyric delivery, there were of course instantly recognisable songs to savour such as ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’, ‘I Don’t Need Anything But You’ and ‘Tomorrow’.

Costumes were first class and the stylish sets were seamlessly and swiftly changed. Glitzy dance routines, such as for NYC, were a joy.

The adoption party where Warbucks’ staff got dolled up was brilliant as was the celebration after the fake parents Mr and Mrs Mudge (Rooster and Lily in disguise) were carted off.

Overall, however, you can’t fail to be charmed by Annie. It’s a show brimming with positivity and is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.

Annie is at MK Theatre until Saturday. Get tickets via ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes.