WITH a feisty orphan heroine, a villainous matriarch who gets her comeuppance, plus a flinty billionaire who learns the value of love – not to mention a big cuddly dog – no ingredient that could make Annie anything other than the ultimate American feel-good drama, was left on the shelf.
The story follows the fortunes of 11-year-old Annie, the eponymous orphan plucked from the clutches of orphan boss Miss Hannigan by billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks.
In Chris Moreno’s production at the Empire, Su Pollard ditches the capering chambermaid from Hi-Di-Hi to reprise the plum role of Miss Hannigan.
She avoided the pantomime dame routine, until the end at least, to inject some entertaining venom into the role.
Her lament, Little Girls, where she spits, “How I hate Little shoes, Little socks,” was an absolute treat. Her powerful voice was a revelation. The raw wind of the Depression ran right though this production, starting with It’s A Hard Knock Life, by the irrepressible and impressive orphans.
