Annie
The Alhambra

I've never particularly cared for this show, having always found it a bit twee, with a paper thin storyline, but from the opening scene of this revamped production I was charmed.

Director Nikolai Foster has breathed new life into this rather dated rags-to-riches tale about an orphan girl and her infectious optimism.

Abandoned in a grubby orphanage in downtown 1930s New York, for reasons that never seem particularly clear, 11-year-old Annie remains upbeat, clinging onto the dream that one day she will be reunited with her parents.

She ends up winning just about everyone over, from a reserved billionaire to the President of the United States.

Right from the start, with dirty-faced orphan girls leaping on and off rows of beds in a stark dormitory, belting out Hard Knock Life, this show packed quite a punch, and left us in no doubt that this was the era of the Great Depression.

This was enforced further with Hooverville, an entertaining but haunting number performed by "the Homeless". Once affluent, hard-working New Yorkers, each had their own hard luck story of falling victim to America's economic collapse.

Every scene was a visual treat, thanks largely to Colin Richmond's imaginative set and costume design, giving what is essentially a schmaltzy family musical a grittier edge. I particularly enjoyed the radio team's rendition of You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, turning one of the show's biggest numbers into a charming period piece toothpaste ad. Thanks to Nick Winston's slick choreography, the action raced along at a cracking pace, just right for a children's show.

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Of course, the success of Annie rests largely on its young lead and Madeleine Haynes was terrific in the title role. The youngster was on stage practically the whole time, striking just the right balance as a tough cookie, bruised by the hard knocks of her young life, and a sweet, loving innocent in a changing world.

Craig Revel Horwood was a hoot as gin-soaked orphanage head Miss Hannigan, staggering around the orphanage, batting off her much-despised young charges like flies.

With a piercing Brooklyn drawl, Craig brought a touch of vaudeville to the role, while his sense of weariness - revealing a loneliness behind the brash exterior - made Hannigan a more rounded character than she's often given credit for.

Great performances too from Jonny Fines and Djalenga Scott as heartless schemers Rooster and Lily, and Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks.

With memorable songs such as Tomorrow, Easy Street and NYC, this is a thoroughly entertaining show, great for an early experience of theatre for youngsters, and this refreshed production has made it much more appealing for modern audiences.

Runs until Saturday.