Annie in the West End anyone?

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

If so here's my Cast...

Daddy Warbucks-Anthony Warlow (repeating his role from Broadway)
Miss Hannigan-Hannah Waddingham
Annie-a newcomer
Grace Farrell-Lucy Durack (West End Debut)
Rooster Hannigan-Ramin Karimloo
Lily St.Regis-Sierra Boggess (needs to break free from sweet roles)

[Musicaldudepeter]

Boggess would be more Grace Farrell. Lily should be a newbie. Waddingham's living in Australia now so she probably won't be doing much in the UK for a while.

[songanddanceman2]

God no, no, no, no, keep that sentimental junk away from London, we already have way to much rubbish on the West End, we don't need more

[mallardo]

I'm surprised at you, SADM2 - do you really think Annie is "sentimental junk"? I find it quite irresistable.

[bob8rich]

I'll be seeing the new Broadway Annie on Monday 18th - and I have to admit I'm really looking forward to it!

[Nickhutson]

No thanks - keeps this bore fest away.

Enjoy it, Bob! It belongs in NYC - not here!

[songanddanceman2]

Afraid so Mallardo, it had a couple of nice songs but I just find it cringe worthy, it's my least favourite popular musical ever.... Closely followed by Oliver. In fact I think Annie and Oliver should be tied together and dumped in the ocean lol

[bob8rich]

[mfan123]

@Musicaldudepeter - do you know what hannah is doing in australia? does she live there normally or just there for a b?

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Well Sierra needs to break free from the sweet roles and I think Lily is the perfect role to do that.

[Jonwo]

Would Annie do well if it came over, I thought the last revival was a flop? I like it but I can understand why people dont like it.

[jaqs]

Its toured fairly regularly hasnt it?

To be honest Ive no idea what might do well at the moment.
Aside from a couple of plays, everything Ive been to recently seems to be struggling.

[Musicaldudepeter]

@mfan123 I don't know tbh, she said in an interview recently that she's moving their with her partner, and if there is work to be had in the UK she would always consider moving back to do a stint in a show, but for the time being she's moving down under... you never know, she may find work in the theatre industry down there.

[alterego]

I saw the original production on Broadway with Loudon and it was terrific*. A week later I saw it in London with Sheila Hancock and Stratford Johns still good. A couple of months later I saw it in L.A. with Jane Connell as Hannigan as a not so good Hannigan...after that every time I saw it it lost some of the gloss and fun. Perhaps it is a show that doesn't stand up to multiple viewings.

ILOHT....Lucy Durack? Really? Really?

*I think what made this show so good in the first place for me was the initial viewing of the exceptional David Mitchell set designs. This new production looks very ... dark.

[goldenboy]

The Broadway Production is a huge disappointment in so many ways. If you get an Annie, hope it is not the misquided NY production which is charmless, miscast, awful sets. Really a mess. It only got good reviews because it openned 2 days after a hurricane.

[Phantom of London]

I don't think the New York critics would bestow praise on the show, just because it opened two days after a hurricane.

Saying that Annie, never seen the show or heard the score, but hope to catch it in New York.

[Chookaburra]

Golden boy - don't know what you have been reading - but I have seen some reviews of the NYC Annie that are stunning !
Agree with Phantom they would not have given good reviews 'just because they opened 2 days after the 'Super Storm' - also they had been performing in 'previews' before that for many days, so had had ample opportunity to make their minds up !

[MusicalBoy]

^ It's more that the critics ate up the sentimental 'NYC-ness' of it all only days after a devastating hurricane.

From what I've heard Lapine's direction hasn't done this show any favours and it doesn't come close to living up to the original.