Congress Theatre, Eastbourne | 10th – 15th August 2015
‘It’s what you wear from ear to ear, and not from head to toe, that matters’
This was certainly the case at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne with their week long production of Annie. The entire audience left the theatre grinning from the opening night of the world’s favourite family musical.
Annie the Musical | Review
Set in 1930’s 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 Warbuck, played by the marvellous Alex Bourne. Spiteful, gin-soaked Miss Hannigan, played brilliantly by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search.
Classic well known songs including Maybe, Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile, were given a new lease of life by musical director George Dyer and executed with precision by all the cast. They’ll be in your head for days!
Team Waldorf opened the tour and it was hard to believe that their cast started from only 8 years old. All six of the orphans were brilliant, extremely talented and a joy to watch. The role of Annie was played by Team Waldorf’s Sophia Pettit who played Annie with just the right amount of emotion, charm and cheek. Sophia shares the role of Annie with two other actresses who I have been assured are equally as talented and charming.
There’s a good reason why the well known and well loved musical has delighted audiences for years, and the adorable cast, catchy songs and feel-good vibe are certainly present at Eastbourne’s theatre. With members of the audience including small children, young adults, parents and grandparents, there certainly was something in it for everyone! Not a particularly serious story and easy to understand, Annie makes the perfect outing for families young and old in the summer holiday period. Showing every evening at 7.30pm, or if your little ones might not make it that late, on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm. The show lasts approximately 140 minutes with a 20 minute interval so is long enough to keep them interested but not too long that they’ll get bored!
If you’re looking for an evening out for all the family then don’t miss Annie, at Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre from Monday 10th August to Saturday 15th August 2015. Oh gee, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it!
Reviewer : Ellen Warwick
Photo Credits : Matt Crockett