“Annie”
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage after being abandoned by her real parents. Her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Meanwhile, the spiteful owner of the orphan’s home, Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family…

Starring Craig Revel-Horwood as Miss Hannigan, this is the first time that I have seen a man play Miss Hannigan, but you know what, I enjoyed this performance such a lot, for a couple of reasons.

Craig is a seasoned performer where playing a woman is concerned and that shows as he looked so comfortable in the role. His facial expressions, which come with performing in panto I suspect, show exactly what Miss Hannigan thinks of the girls.

Now I've seen several Miss Hannigan's but finally we get one who got the Noo Yoik/Brooklyn/Jewish accent spot on. I knew previously that he has a really good voice, so that didn't come as a surprise, and the dancing goes without saying was going to be top quality. I also know that his acting is really good, all you have to do is watch him on "Strictly". Possibly the best Miss Hannigan I've seen.

Freya Yates, as Annie, was everything you'd want from an "Annie". She was confident, sang with gusto and had stage presence.

The orphan girl actors show what wonderfully talented young actors/dancers/singers they are, and as an ensemble group worked as one. When the onus is on the ensemble to open the show, you have to have great confidence in what you do and these girls oozed confidence. Their dancing was insanely energetic, and at times acrobatic, whcih made them an exciting watch.

Carolyn Maitland (Grace Maitland), Alex Bourne (Daddy Warbucks), Richard Meek (Rooster) and Jenny Gayler (Lily) all gave excellent performances.

Colin Richmond has designed the set and costumes, and again, every time I see "Annie" these are different so it's like watching the show for the first time, every time.

Choreographed by Nick Winston, it again felt like I was watching a new show as the dancing was fresh and really exciting with sections that I couldn't recall from past productions.

Director, Nikolai Foster seems to have brought a whole new sheen to this production, and the pace is often breath-taking.

Apart from the song that everyone associates with "Annie", "Tomorrow", there are several others that will have you earwormed. The delicate "Maybe", the rebellious "Hard Knock Life", the glorious "Little Girls", the Broadway jazz hands, high kicking "Easy Street", the fun "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile" and so many more make this musical soundtrack so memorable. A soundtrack brought to glittery life by Musical Director Daniel Griffin.

It's one of those musicals where you love the good guys, but also quite like the bad guys as well, almost like a panto; well it is set at Christmas!

In the words of one of its' stars, the show is FAB-U-LOUS and a 10 from me, daaaahlings.

“Annie” is at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall until Saturday 25 May