Review: Annie by Pickering Musical Society (From Gazette & Herald)

Review: Annie by Pickering Musical Society

11:50am Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in What's on

PICKERING Musical Society’s production of Annie was a credit to director Luke Arnold.

The undoubted stars of the show were the children who played the orphans. Their enthusiasm was tremendous and they shone like beacons on the stage. Danielle Long made a charming Annie with an assured performance, but the audience loved them all.

Almost stealing the show was Bradley a delightful little Lakeland terrier, who took his part to the manner born.

Lynne Marks and Simon Wrench made a good pairing as Lily St Regis and Rooster Hannigan.

Rooster was so sleazy, he made the audience squirm.

There were some nice cameo roles from David Tester (Bundles McCloskey), Martin Connell (Bert Healey), Carl Lindsley (Franklin D Roosevelt) and John Wardell (Drake, the oh so English butler).

The chorus, who all played several characters, carried out their parts well. Maureen Symonds (Miss Hannigan), Marcus Burnside (Warbucks) and Suzanne Booker (Grace) also lent their support to an entertaining evening.

The orchestra, led by Richard Benson, played well.

They particularly seemed to enjoy Easy Street, with the music sounding as sleazy as Rooster looked.

All in all this was a very enjoyable show which had the audience leaving with a smile and humming the familiar tunes.

Review by Ann Cunningham