NODA Review of Annie

A musical first for Hilltop with their staging of the ever popular Annie, at the Pentyrch Village Hall in November. No big theatre, big budgets, big sets and all the trimmings but a simple staging and a production rich in warmth and charm. From the opening score the audience was hooked by the bright eyed enthusiasm and characters of the girls at the New York orphanage. A great team and a joy to watch. Singing without brashness but with sweetness and clear diction, Jodie Lunnon won hearts in a confident and talented performance as rags to riches orphan Annie. The dreaded Miss Hannigan, matron of the orphanage, was a wonderful and fearsome performance by Linda Coombes with hard hitting performances by Richard Jones as her criminal brother, Rooster, and Amanda Campbell his raunchy moll, Lily St Regis in their raucous search for Easy Street. Martyn Lench beautifully sang and played with strength and sensitivity the wealthy industrialist, Oliver Warbucks, and one sensed possible romance with his attractive secretary, Grace Farrell, stylishly played by Siân Major. Cameo roles were securely played by Phil Davies as Bert Healy, together with the Boylan Sisters, John Kelland as President Roosevelt with a very competent cabinet, and Ian Jones as the British butler, Drake. Despite the stage limitations the show flowed well through its many scenes in an organised and able production by Bob Petersen and was supported by a backing sensitive to the young performances under the musical direction of Ben Davies. The society can be well pleased with their first venture into musical theatre. The audience certainly was.

 Reviewed by Frank Wooles

Cast

Annie - Jodie Lunnon

Molly - Bethany Petersen

Pepper - Katrina Davies

Duffy - Megan Thomas

July - Carla Gambarini

Tessie - Jenna Claridge

Kate - Abigail Dawson

Other Orphans – Aimee Blair, Lottie Wigg, Jessie Turner, Ella Powell, Manon Griffiths, Ffion Cox, Alice Liney

Miss Hannigan - Linda Coombes

Oliver Warbucks - Martyn Lench

Grace Farrell - Siân Major

Rooster Hannigan - Richard Jones

Lily St Regis - Amanda Campbell

Drake - Ian Jones

A Star to Be - Sarah Jên Gazzard

Bundles McCloskey - Mike Sweetman

Sandy - Truffle

President Roosevelt - John Kelland

Dog Catchers - Nathan Brown, Richard Jones

Lt Ward - Ian Jones

Sophie / Mrs Greer - Heather Major

Mrs Pugh / Louise Howe - Hilary Evans

Cecille / Bonny Boylan - Charlotte Hayward

Annette / Connie Boylan - Amy-Rose Topping Morris

Ronnie Boylan - Sarah Jên Gazzard

Bert Healy / Harold Ickes - Phil Davies

Fred McCracken / Cordell Hull - Rhys Stapleton

Sound Effects Woman / Henrietta Morgenthau - Sue O’Halloran

Frances Perkins - Karen Claridge

Marine - Nathan Brown

Justice Brandeis - Mike Sweetman

Hooverville-ites, Policemen, Servants, New Yorkers - Elen Clee, Sara Pickard, Lucy Bradshaw, Richard Jones, Amanda Campbell, Ian Jones, Sarah Jên Gazzard, Mike Sweetman, Heather Major, Hilary Evans, Charlotte Hayward, Amy-Rose Topping Morris, Sarah Jên Gazzard, Phil Davies, Rhys Stapleton, Sue O’Halloran, Karen Claridge, Nathan Brown, Mike Sweetman, John Kelland.

Production Team

Producer / Director – Bob Petersen

Musical Director – Ben Davies

Director’s Assistant – Mary Hampson

Choreographer – Jocelyn Elmer

Choreographer’s Assistant – Lucy Bradshaw

Stage Manager – Wayne Brewer

Assistant Stage Manager / Properties – Raynor Phinnemore

Set Design and Construction – Wayne Brewer, Raynor Phinnemore, Josh Cripp, Rhys Stapleton, Sarah Gibbon, Owain Davies, Greg Jenkins

Lighting – Owain Davies

Sound – Greg Jenkins

Continuity – Anne Morris

Wardrobe Mistress – Norma Bousfield, Karen Claridge

Business Manager – Siân Davies

House Manager – Steve Williams

Bar Manager – John Major

House Staff – Members and Friends of Hilltop

Box Office – Heather Major, Brenda Slaughter

Child Liaison / Dog Handler – Tracy Richards