REVIEW
Annie
By Open House Productions
At the Sir John Colfox School,Bridport
July 25-28


FOLLOWING on from the success of their first outing Oliver! Open House Productions' second pick was another family friendly musical just bursting with children's parts.

With a predictable cheesy plot, Annie is one of those musicals that while heart-warming lacks the depth of something like Oliver! and can easily lurch into an exceedingly irritating high-pitched song-fest of musicals at their worst.

Fortunately Open House managed to create a thoroughly entertaining show, helped no end by the captivating Alice Kiltie in the title role.

Young Annie is abandoned as a baby at an orphanage run by cruel Miss Hannigan, played with delicious drunkeness and humour by Fran Potter.

Left with half a locket, and the hope that her parents will one day return for her, Annie makes a series of unsuccessful escape attempts in search of her parents, here with the added ahhh of a real dog on stage.

Ever the optimist young Annie's life turns around with a visit by billionaire's secretary Grace, an aptly graceful Mandy McClements.

She offers the orphan the chance to spend two weeks over Christmas with her boss Oliver Warbucks - here a strong performance from Kenny Poole who finally gets to show his good side after a villainous turn as Bill Sykes last time out.

The orphan soon finds her way into the hearts of Warbucks and his staff, not to mention the president of the USA, thanks to her cheery outlook on life.

Warbucks wants to adopt her but with Annie's heart set on finding her real parents he decides to help and offers a reward.

Miss Hannigan's sleazy brother Rooster, another strong turn from teenage actor Jamie Isaacs, and his outrageous girlfriend Lily, Shannon Hill, are both keen to get their hands on the cash and with Hannigan's help pose as Annie's parents.

Of course there is a happy ending and you can see a mile off how it will end, but there is a lot of entertainment along the way, especially from the Hooverville residents.

Fun is provided by the comedy from the orphanage kids and the Boylan radio family's great jingles, not forgetting of course radio performer Bert Healy (Tony Glover) and Wacky the ventriloquists' dummy played to great effect by Sage Beckingham.

Alice Kiltie, as the fiery mop and red-haired orphan Annie, gave a brilliant turn with a singing voice and confidence that cut above even the adult performers around her.

What could so easily have been a brat-like and most saccharine display of the worst kind was instead pleasing to watch with the whole audience rooting for her throughout.

The adults were strong throughout, with among others Tony Glover, Pete Ward, Barbara Probert and Tony Larcombe, providing good support.

But of course this is a show about the kids, and the fantastic song and dance routines notably Tomorrow and It's A Hard Knock Life, featuring the orphans were superb.

Open House suffers from a problem many a theatre group would love to have - they have too much young talent to go round.

Their next production, Bugsy Malone, in February, will be perfect to give even more of the youngsters a chance to shine. I for one cannot wait.

For the full cast list click here