Heart-warming Annie musical is as entertaining as ever

Anytime a stage musical has a cast of talented kids and features an adorable dog, it’s bound to be a success. And when superstar actor Anthony Warlow leads the cast, as in the latest revival of the Broadway hit Annie which had its Melbourne premiere at the Princess Theatre on July 10, it guarantees a wonderfully entertaining production.

Warlow is in familiar territory playing Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, having starred as the billionaire businessman in earlier Australian productions at the Regent theatre in 2001 and 2012, and a Broadway production in 2012.

Despite his role not being as big as some of his previous blockbuster roles such as The Phantom of the Opera, Warlow more than makes up for it with the classy quality of his performance.

Annie was an instant Broadway success when it premiered in 1977 with a run of almost six years, kicked off by winning seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, and the latest revival remains fresh and vibrant.

The cast includes Debora Krizak, who brings class and comic timing to her role as tyrannical orphanage supervisor Miss Hannigan, while Keanu Gonzalez plays her brother “Rooster” Hannigan and Mackenzie Dunn shines as his latest flame, Lily St Regis.