Annie - UK Tour

[FrontroverPaul]

Did anyone else catch the broadcast of Annie Live on Sky Arts yesterday ? I wouldn't say Annie was one of my favourite musicals but I thought this was just wonderful.

[westendcub]

Annie Live! What a lovely treat on Sky Arts, just watched & it was terrific!

[marob]

Another two Miss Hannigans announced - Elaine C Smith and Jodie Prenger, so 4 in total with Paul O’Grady and Craig Revel Horwood.

I’d quite like to see Jodie Prenger in the role, but booked O’Grady in Liverpool. I’ve seen it once before and liked it, but don’t think I’d want to see twice in three weeks.

[Being Alive]

Jodie was terrific last time she did it - although I'm only interested this time to see Paul which I think will be pretty fun

[Sean]

Additional week added to Dublin from 22 – 26 August. The new week will have Craig Revel Horwood as Miss Hannigan. With the original week of 29 august – 3 september having Paul O'Grady as Miss Hannigan.

[johnie21]

Mar 30, 2023 12:12:04 GMT kit66 said:

Reading through some of the wonderful dedications on Twitter Paul O'Grady was due to be in Annie over Christmas at the Savoy.I wonder if this is still schedulded to transfer.

do you mean new Wimbledon Theatre as I've not heard about Savoy run x

[evilmat360]

The Mayflower Theatre have announced Craig Revel Horwood performing as Miss Hannigan.

Not seen any information for any of the other venues where Paul O'Grady was to perform at yet.

[QueerTheatre]

what do we think are the chances of refunds on Paul show dates? I booked explicitly for him as i wasnt really a fan of this production in general but have fond memories of Paul doing it as Lily decades ago....

[evilmat360]

Probably depend on the venues, but some may just rely on their conditions stating that cast is subject to change such as ATGs note of "*The appearance of any member of cast is subject to change and may be affected by contracts, holiday, illness, or events beyond the producers' control."

[marob]

I’m supposed to be seeing it in Liverpool. Hoping for Jodie Prenger, but I expect it’ll be CRH.

[ilovewemusicals]

Apr 11, 2023 22:52:46 GMT marob said:

I’m supposed to be seeing it in Liverpool. Hoping for Jodie Prenger, but I expect it’ll be CRH.

I’m hoping it will be Elaine C Smith but I can’t see it happening sadly.

[kyvai]

Apr 11, 2023 22:52:46 GMT marob said:

I’m supposed to be seeing it in Liverpool. Hoping for Jodie Prenger, but I expect it’ll be CRH.

Same and same, it was the chance to see Paul O’Grady perform that pushed me to book in Liverpool (have family there anyway so go up several times a year). I would be happy to see Jodie Prenger or Elaine Smith. Have to say I wouldn’t have booked for CRH.

That announcement from the Mayflower does kinda make it sound like CRH will cover all of Paul’s dates though.

I wonder if we’ll have any mark of respect for Paul at the show. Like a moments silence or a projection on the safety curtain at the interval or something.

[theatregeek1]

I saw this twice in Birmingham over the last few days, Birmingham being the first venue the show has performed in since Paul’s passing. Last Saturday, Craig Revel Horwood did a short speech after bows dedicating the show to Paul and the musical director composed different exit music as a tribute (this has since been reverted back to the usual music).

I must say I was never a fan of Craig as Miss Hannigan in previous years but I was very impressed with him this time round.

I’d say this tour is worth seeing just for Paul French as Rooster, who is absolutely brilliant!

[marob]

Had an email saying Craig Revel Horwood will be doing the shows at Liverpool Empire. Expected, but still disappointing.


Hate to waste the money but I’ve booked for Venue Cymru in Llandudno to see Jodie Prenger instead. Only the second time I’ll have been there, the first to see Andy Coxon in Curtains instead of Ore Oduba, so there’s a pattern starting to emerge there.

[Sean]

Bord Gais have emailed to say Craig Revel Horwood will now be doing all Dublin dates.

[lookingatthestars]

Just saw Craig being interviewed on Irish TV about an hour ago and when talking about 'Annie' he did say he felt sorry for the people who had booked to see Paul O Grady and now have to watch him. He said it was hard for the cast to carry on now without Paul, and of course he also spoke abour Len Goodman who also just passed away.

I've never seen Annie, so I've no idea what any of them were/are like, but i'd imagine Paul was really good in the role

[marob]

I thought I saw this a few years ago, but apparently it was way back in 2015, with Lesley Joseph as Miss Hannigan, who I like a lot as a performer, but she’s little long in the tooth for some of the roles she keeps getting cast in on stage. My main memory is her struggling to keep up with Jonny Fines and Djalenga Scott in Easy Street.

So having decided to sack off CRH in a few weeks I went to see Jodie Prenger instead, and I’m glad I did. Wrings every bit of comedy out of the role, no trouble with the choreography, and Little Girls went from being a song that never really registered with me before to one of the highlights. Certainly can’t imagine Craig Revel Horwood doing any better.

I noticed that her two-week stint has been extended as the website says that from September she’s covering all of his Saturdays and a couple of other dates.

[kyvai]

Saw this in Liverpool last night

Excellent overall and a really enjoyable night out, the young cast and ensemble are really good, they all work so hard, performances are uniformly brilliant. Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks is a standout. My only real criticisms were a few issues with sound/mixing at the start (couldn’t understand a word of what the girls were saying in the opening scene, from mid front circle, but once Maybe and Hard Knock Life kicked in all was well) and also the tempo of almost every number was a notable touch faster than you might expect, it felt like the conductor was in a rush to catch the 10pm train lol!

There were notices in memorial of Paul O’Grady on the bars and an announcement at the interval that they would be collecting for a charity in his memory at the end got some applause. I heard a few people around us talking about him as we milled about in the interval and afterwards. He would have been fabulous. CRH is good, he’s got the chops, his dancing is obviously spot on, but it didn’t feel like he really completely nailed the comedy of it. He seemed to throw away a lot of lines. Especially in Liverpool, it’s almost Paul’s home town, so many audience were there for him, his presence was definitely felt.

[louonthegogo]

Jun 10, 2023 6:44:38 GMT kyvai said:

Saw this in Liverpool last night

Excellent overall and a really enjoyable night out, the young cast and ensemble are really good, they all work so hard, performances are uniformly brilliant. Alex Bourne as Daddy Warbucks is a standout. My only real criticisms were a few issues with sound/mixing at the start (couldn’t understand a word of what the girls were saying in the opening scene, from mid front circle, but once Maybe and Hard Knock Life kicked in all was well) and also the tempo of almost every number was a notable touch faster than you might expect, it felt like the conductor was in a rush to catch the 10pm train lol!

There were notices in memorial of Paul O’Grady on the bars and an announcement at the interval that they would be collecting for a charity in his memory at the end got some applause. I heard a few people around us talking about him as we milled about in the interval and afterwards. He would have been fabulous. CRH is good, he’s got the chops, his dancing is obviously spot on, but it didn’t feel like he really completely nailed the comedy of it. He seemed to throw away a lot of lines. Especially in Liverpool, it’s almost Paul’s home town, so many audience were there for him, his presence was definitely felt.

I saw it in Dublin this week and had similar issues could not understand a single word that Molly was saying (might have been a diction issue though) and the girls at the start were also very difficult to understand. I had originally booked for Paul O'Grady but CRH was satisfactory although I do agree that he threw a lot of the funny lines away. 

Overall decent enough I wouldn't be rushing to see it anytime soon, but I think I've been spoiled by the American Live proshot.

[FairyGodmother]

I've just seen it in Manchester.

I also couldn't tell a word Molly was saying at the beginning.

I had a really good time, some lovely dancing and really good lighting I thought. Thoroughly enjoyed watching the conductor-pianist too.