‘ANNIE’ AT EDGEBOROUGH

Watching children develop into adults is usually a gradual process, but this is not so in a sparkling musical production such as we saw at Edgeborough last week. ‘Annie’, the 1980’s Broadway musical based on the comic strip ‘Orphan Annie’ is an ideal vehicle for children, full of energy and fun, with an ‘Oliver’-like ‘poor child makes good’ theme.

The principals were ideally cast. The role of Annie was played with great poignancy and impish charm and Grace Farrell with poise and confidence.  Oliver Warbucks was cool and controlled and charmed the audience in the role of the handsome and fabulously rich.

The all-round dramatic strength of the cast was evident from start to finish, and congratulations must go to the producers, Derrick Fockens and Caroline Elworthy, and to the excellent choreography of Keri Knight.

‘Watching these boys and girls, it would be easy to forget that they are only twelve or thirteen,’ said the Headmaster, Richard Jackson. ‘Their confidence and enthusiasm was stunning, and their performance would not have disgraced the West End. It was a privilege to be there.’