Review: ANNIE at The Hawth, Crawley



Date: 13th November 2023 

Seat: R12

Tickets: Gifted

Rating: 4 Stars

It might be a hard-knock life for the orphans at the New York Municipal Orphanage, but it’s certainly no hardship for the audience to enjoy this magnificent version of the all-time classic, Annie. 

So, what is it about this particular production of Annie that works so well? One thing is the same thing that works for every production of Annie – the score. These songs are so familiar that hearing them sung (and sung so impressively) on a stage in front of you makes you feel happy. That’s it. There’s a nostalgic edge to everything you see and hear, and whether it’s the iconic “Tomorrow”, the fantastic “Hard-Knock Life”, or perhaps Miss Hannigan’s desperate refrain (and my personal favourite), “Little Girls”, these are songs we’ve all grown up with. That’s special, and it means Annie holds a unique place in many people’s hearts. 

Then there are the dance numbers. With Craig Revel-Horwood playing Miss Hannigan, you know you’re in for a treat when it comes to dancing, and Annie doesn’t disappoint. Choreographed by Nick Winston (Bonnie and Clyde, Fame), there’s dancing from beginning to end, and a couple of showstopping moments really stood out. One of the most impressive scenes was definitely "NYC", which had a plethora of different dance styles and was a long number, a real treat for the eyes (and ears). From tap dancing to jazz, this reminded me of the gorgeously over-the-top musicals of the 1930s, which is exactly what it was trying to evoke (Annie is set in 1933, after all). 



“Easy Street” was another excellent example of how fantastic the choreography is in Annie. We had Miss Hannigan (Craig Revel-Horwood), Rooster (Paul French), and Lily (Emily Barnett-Salter) high-kicking and shimmying across the stage, thoroughly entertaining the audience with one of the catchiest tunes in the show (it’s still in my head this morning). 

The cast of Annie is magical. As the evil Miss Hannigan, Craig Revell-Horwood is a force to be reckoned with. He’s hilarious and nasty all in one performance that you just can’t take your eyes off, and he effortlessly commands the stage. 

Zoe Akinyosade was Annie, and there couldn’t have been anyone in the theatre who didn’t have their heartstrings tugged by her gorgeous rendition of “Maybe”. She was tough, scared, sad, and lovable, and that’s exactly what Annie needs to be. 

Alex Bourne was Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks, and he managed to put across the gruff exterior of a big old softy perfectly; his interactions with Zoe Akinyosade’s Annie were so sweet. And the chemistry between him and Amelia Adams’ Grace was joyous. Speaking of Amelia Adams, she was the perfect Grace, taking charge of the situation and being the mother to Annie that she’d never had. 

Annie is a delight, and highly recommended – you already know the songs so it’s like slipping under a comfort blanket of entertainment but with added sparkle and pizzazz that makes it zing with energy and fun. 

A-ma-zing, darling! 

Annie is at The Hawth, Crawley, until 18th November: https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth/whats-on/annie

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