Review: Forget Annie, Paul O’Grady’s horrible Hannigan steals the show

Lily Savage creator makes triumphant return to hit role, 25 years on

Edinburgh Playhouse

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Almost 25 years after he first tottered onto the Edinburgh Playhouse stage as Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie, Paul O’Grady is back.

Then it was his straight-talking alter-ego Lily Savage who took a turn as the drink-sodden warden of a downbeat New York orphanage, this time the 69-year-old returns as himself, though similarities between past and present performances remain plain to see, which is as it should be, especially as O’Grady makes this production his own, and his alone.

With his trademark delivery as acerbic as ever and his comic brilliance taking advantage when even the slightest opportunity arises, the roar of approval and standing ovation that greeted his curtain call was fully deserved; Paul O’Grady ‘channeling’ Lily Savage playing Miss Hannigan is pure gold.

Of course, with lesser performers in the role of Hannigan, it’s young Annie that steals all the limelight, along with her rag tag collection of abandoned dorm mates.

They drive the energy of many of the big signature numbers, songs like It’s A Hard Knock Life and the mawkishly overused Tomorrow, although it does take them a scene or two to find their rhythm.

From Molly to Pepper to Annie herself, these orphans are likeable little creations oozing mischievous warmth. Like Annie, they also lack the precociousness of casts that have gone before and are all the better for that.

That the story of Annie follows a predictable rags to riches arc. Set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Annie is living a life of misery and determined to find her real parents. However, everything changes when she is invited to spend Christmas at the home of billionaire, Oliver ‘Daddy’ Warbucks.

It’s a feel good tale and if a couple of numbers are over long (Easy Street being one, it lacks the budget to make it zing the way it should), the show still manages to just about hold the attention of even the youngest audience members.

Unusually, press night saw two principal understudies appear, David Burroughs stepping into the role of Daddy Warbucks, causing Lukin Simmonds to replace him as Lt Ward and Franklin Roosevelt.

Both prove safe hands, not least Burroughs, whose portrayal of Warbucks is as generous as his billionaire character.

Adding some nicely played threat to proceedings, Paul French and Billie Kay as Rooster and Lily are sinisterly over the top yet never too scarey. Both boast impressive vocals and dancing skills.

But at the end of the day, it’s evident that it’s Paul O’Grady people have turned out for and from his reaction to the love, he’s enjoying every second of being back.

Annie runs at the Edinburgh Playhouse until Saturday 25 April. Paul O’Grady also appears as Miss Hannigan at the Southampton Mayflower Theatre, 24-29 April, Liverpool Liverpool Empire, 5-10 June, Wimbledon New Wimbledon Theatre, 7-11 November and Bristol Bristol Hippodrome, 20-25 November.