MUSICAL THEATRE
Book: Thomas Meehan; Music: Charles Strouse; Lyrics: Martin Charnin
Based on Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray
At Princes Theatre Melbourne until Sunday 2 November 2025
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: **** (4)
This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly on 3MBS on Sat 19 July 2025. KH
 |
| Amanda Lea Levergne, Matilda Casey (Not Melbourne), Anthony Warlow, & Ensemble-image -Daniel-Boud |
The sun is definitely out in Annie, the beloved Broadway musical now playing at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre, with its heart-warming tale, strong performances, and clever production elements giving this classic story a fresh sparkle.
Set during the Great Depression, Annie follows the indomitable red-headed orphan, played with endearing charm by Isabella Hayden, as she dreams of escaping her bleak life in a New York City orphanage run by the boozy and bitter Miss Hannigan (Debora Krizak). Annie’s fortunes turn when she’s invited to spend Christmas with billionaire industrialist Daddy Warbucks (Anthony Warlow), who is soon captivated by her optimism and resilience.
Based on the 1920s–30s Little Orphan Annie comic strip created by Harold Gray, the musical features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Karen Johnson Mortimer’s direction strikes a deft balance between sentimental warmth and brisk storytelling. Michael Woodcock’s choreography is sharp, clean, and packed with energy, particularly in Hard Knock Life, in which the orphan girls scrub the floor and stamp and slap in rhythmic protest at their grim existence.
Hayden leads the orphan ensemble with plucky conviction, though she’s nearly upstaged in Tomorrow by the adorable Sandy, her canine companion, who wins the audience’s heart with ease.
Warlow reprises Warbucks with seasoned assurance and gravitas, delivering a heartfelt performance that anchors the show emotionally.
Krizak as Miss Hannigan is deliciously grotesque, her comic timing impeccable. She shines in Easy Street, a saucy and sly trio with Keanu Gonzalez as her slippery brother Rooster and Mackenzie Dunn as his ditzy, gold-digging girlfriend, Lily St Regis. Their snappy vocals and well-rehearsed choreography make this number a true showstopper.
Craig Wilkinson’s video projections provide immersive and surprisingly realistic visuals of 1930s New York—from drab orphanage corridors to towering cityscapes—while Kenneth Foy’s stage design shifts seamlessly from muted greys and browns to the rich golds and reds of Warbucks’ luxurious home. The uncluttered design ensures pace and flow, letting the performances and music shine.
Although the final scene resolves the plot and Annie’s story satisfactorily, it is largely dialogue-driven and the staging feels static, making it less theatrically engaging than the ebullient, choreographed scenes that precede it.
This Annie offers enough polish, pep, and pathos to satisfy audiences of all ages. With a winning cast and high production values, it proves once again that this plucky orphan’s journey from rags to riches still tugs the heartstrings and tickles the funny bone.
by Kate Herbert
(One comment about Annie in general: It seems to work best when the Annie is not only smiling and charming but also tough and resilient in the way only a Depression Era orphan in NYC could be!)
Cast:
Isabella Hayden (Annie), Anthony Warlow (Daddy Warbucks), Debora Krizak (Miss
Hannigan), Keanu Gonzalez (Rooster), Mackenzie Dunn (Lily St Regis)
Creative
Team:
Book: Thomas Meehan
Music: Charles Strouse
Lyrics: Martin Charnin
Based on Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray
Director: Karen Johnson Mortimer
Choreographer: Michael Woodcock
Set Designer: Kenneth Foy
Video Projections: Craig Wilkinson
No comments:
Post a Comment