Annie traveled through New York trying to find her parents. A fun family musical with song and dance.
Over 80 local youngsters took to the stage of The Leighton Buzzard Theatre during 8 performances of Annie junior. The production was full of stars ranging in age from 5-13. The performers were split into three groups allowing three of every character.
Annie was played brilliantly by Georgia McElwee, Jennifer Beckwith and Rosie Brookes. Each girl had a different style but all had a cheeky smile, superb singing voice and terrific acting style. Daddy Warbucks was played by Thomas Dunne aged 10, Kieran Faulkner and Jonathan Vernon both aged 13. The boys played the role with maturity and sensitivity, it's not easy to play a middle aged man but all three boys were super.
Grace Farrell was played by Eleanor Turner, Jess Allsopp and Emma Jones, they sang beautifully, wore high heels well and tolerated the rantings of Daddy Warbucks with extreme patience. Miss Hannigan was played by Suzanne Taylor, Lorna Drummond and Sarah Gallagher - all three girls were terrifyingly loud and very scary-super singing and excellent acting. The cast was so full of stars it is impossible to mention them all. The all did really well from the youngset Holly Lane, Robert Beilby and Amy Robertson to one of the tallest 13 year old Rebekah Lander who played Lilly St Regis alongside Jenny Humphries and Josie Derland, to the funniest Callum Fosberry, Harvey Murray and Sebastian Cridland who played Rooster Hannigan with panache and style, they all did so well.
Some children were on the stage for the very first time and some are old timers who have trod the boards for over 7 years. Special mention must go to Helen Mountford aged 9 who stepped in at the last minute to play the part of Molly, the youngest orphan in an older team when Shona Drummond was stuck in flooded Stratford Upon Avon. Helen met her new Annie and was on the stage, costumed and ready within 20 minutes of finding out she would have to play the role in a new cast, she was wonderful. Shona returned for two performances on Saturday - relieved and happy.
Leighton Buzzard Children's Theatre is so lucky to have so much talent, the youngsters concerned work hard and enjoy themselves. The production raised £500 for the Bedford Primrose unit which supports women with breast cancer in Bedfordshire.