Tomorrow Never Looked So Bright: Annie Brings a Little Bit of Sunshine to Nottingham

Written by Katie Barr

There are some musicals that you go to see knowing you will enjoy them, and then there are those that somehow manage to make you feel like a child again. Annie is very firmly in the second category.

As the familiar opening notes filled the Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday evening, there was an immediate sense that we were in for a night of nostalgia, laughter and, of course, a lot of singing along. And despite knowing exactly where the story is heading, this production still manages to make you care about Annie’s journey all over again.

Set in Depression-era New York, Annie follows the determined young orphan who dreams of finding her parents and refuses to let the rather unfortunate circumstances of her childhood dampen her optimism. When billionaire Oliver Warbucks takes her into his home, her life changes dramatically – although not before Miss Hannigan and her rather questionable family members cause plenty of trouble along the way.

It is a story that could easily become overly sweet, but this production knows when to have fun with it.

At the heart of the show is June Young as Annie, who brings an impressive amount of confidence and personality to the role. There is something incredibly likeable about her performance, and she makes Annie’s optimism feel genuine rather than forced. When she launches into Tomorrow, you can’t help but smile. It is one of those songs that everyone knows, but hearing it performed live by someone who completely understands the character behind it makes it feel fresh again.

And then there is Claire Sweeney.

As Miss Hannigan, Sweeney is having an absolute ball – and thankfully, so are we. She brings plenty of comedy to the role, with her facial expressions and timing earning some of the biggest laughs of the evening. Miss Hannigan is not exactly going to win any awards for her childcare skills, but Sweeney manages to make her wonderfully entertaining. Easy Street is undoubtedly one of her standout moments, with Elliot David Parkes as Rooster and Amber Kennedy as Lily St Regis joining her to create one of the show’s most enjoyable numbers.

Alex Bourne’s Oliver Warbucks is another highlight. Initially appearing every inch the serious businessman, there is a lovely transformation as Annie gradually breaks through his rather formidable exterior. The relationship between the two is at the centre of the show’s emotional journey, and Bourne brings warmth to Warbucks without losing the character’s commanding presence.

Tanisha-Mae Brown is equally charming as Grace Farrell, providing a calm and warm presence amongst some of the show’s more chaotic characters.

Of course, you cannot talk about Annie without mentioning the orphans. The young cast throw themselves into the production with bags of energy, particularly during It’s the Hard-Knock Life. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and they prove that the youngest members of a cast can sometimes have the biggest stage presence.

Visually, the production transports us effortlessly between the grim realities of the orphanage, the busy streets of New York and the grandeur of Warbucks’ mansion. There is plenty happening on stage without it ever feeling overwhelming, while the costumes help establish the period and give the production that classic musical theatre feel.

And then there is Sandy.

Every appearance from Annie’s four-legged companion was met with an inevitable wave of “aww” from the audience, and quite honestly, I was no exception.

What makes Annie work so well is that underneath all the bright costumes, big songs and comedy, there is a simple message about hope. Annie has very little, yet she refuses to believe that things cannot get better.

Leaving the Royal Concert Hall, with Tomorrow almost certainly stuck in everyone’s heads, it was difficult not to feel a little more optimistic than when we arrived.

Sometimes, a little bit of sunshine is exactly what you need.

All content is original to The Literary Lounge blog.

In-article images credited to Paul Coltas and Matt Crockett. No changes were made to these images.

Featured Image credited to Matt Crockett. No changes were made to this image.

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