'Annie’ arrives

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 6

'Annie’ arrives

“Annie,” by the Christchurch I Operatic Society, at the James Hay Theatre, March 6 to March 27. Saturday’s performance reviewed by Heath Lees. ' 3 - ; > . . ■? You will love “Annie.” It is one bf .the, most .ambitious . productions that the operatic society has attempted, but it has the-makings, of a very successful run. “ - That this domes as. something of a surprise' is no reflection on Saturday’s performance, but on the show itself. >’ ' j?.. : •' ■ . ...Apart from “Tomorrow” there is no really sure-fire, show-stopping vocal number. Dancing is kept , to a minimum. 'The,.dialogue, in keeping;:, with; the . comic-strip origin,: is short, often laconic. Theisfory itself is about"as. threadbare? .as Annie’s sweater, 'and again the influence iof the comic-strip dictates' that the characters, are

two-dimensional: caricatures father than persons. The secret of the success is that all these apparent weaknesses are seized upon and transformed into theatrical strengths; .The loosely joined scenes : provide for constant variety on the stage, Moving, horizontal platforms bring to life the lafefal‘-)prbgress of the original 'comic frames and allow for a seemingly continuous montage of city life. The 6bld -sweep of. line which isja- featufe of Harold Gray’s earlier drawings is vividly recaptured ■ in- sets . such as.that-for the bridge at 59th Street. Electronic wiz- ' ardry suddenly recreates a city square that garishly beckons the elite of the 1930 s rich: Against this- magnificent background the actors occasionally seemed a litle bewildered but, in the true spirit ' of Annie, sbldieped on to win. '• The children? are magnifi-' &

cent, especially. Annie herself, who is rarely off the stage, and their uninhibited routines are well catered for by an array of microphones that make them easily heard throughout, the theatre. : Of the others .in. the mammoth cast, special mention could- be made of Janice. , Gray’s.Mlss Hannigan, whose headaches are all of her own making, but - whose features seem to have a hilarious life of their own. ■ Patrick ', Paynter’s Warbuck's 3 is delightfully authentic — his accent is i not just American, ibiit’ New York too — and Paul Borland's contri- '. button helps- to make the N.B.C. (episode' the funniest scene in the show. It looked as though Saturday evening’s, performance was a sell-out. My guess would be that Annie’s Gonna . Like It Here, and tickets will be scarce as 5 New York’s leapin’ lizards. Well. I mean. Gee. -.; 3 ..,<V ' 3 ;