Youth Theatre’s superb Annie wins the hearts of their audience

Mar 26 2008 by Graham Fraser

WHEN Hamilton District Youth Theatre made the inspired decision to produce their own version of Annie, they must have known they were on to a winner.

After all, the popular show is one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time, and HDYT have some very talented youngsters on their books.

So it came as no surprise when they delivered a wonderful rendition of Annie at Hamilton Town House last weekend.

For readers who were born on another planet missed the film version with Aileen Quinn and Albert Finney, Annie is the story of an orphan who wins the heart of billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his assistant, Grace.

While congratulations must go to all of the young performers, I must highlight 10-year-old Erin Duffy, who stole the show with a brilliant performance in the title role.

Erin, who stays in Cambuslang and attends St Joseph’s Primary School in Blantyre, delighted the audience with her performance of the hit songs ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Hardknock Life’.

She was simply fantastic as the vulnerable yet fun-loving little orphan.

Erin only joined Hamilton District Youth Theatre earlier this year. Bill Austin, chairman of HDYT, and his team did not even know about her when they decided to run the show.

But Erin made the role of Annie her own, and we can be sure to see her in many future performances in Hamilton.

The success of this performance, however, was not just down to Erin’s undoubted talent. Eightteen-year-old Nicole Grant was brilliant as the drunken, depressive Miss Hannigan.

Her performance of ‘Little Girls’, where the orphanage director laments about her life, was one of the finest songs of the night and deservedly received the plaudits of the audience.

Stuart Love was also excellent as Oliver Warbucks while Suzanne Hunt, who delighted as Beauty in the group’s 2007 pantomime Beauty and the Beast, again excelled as Grace.

A word must also go to the costume and set designers, who managed to transform Hamilton Town House to the streets of 1930s New York with such professionalism.

And what about Sandy?

Sadly, the popular song about the dingy dog was cut from HDYT’s version, but our canine friend did appear in the form of eight-year-old Daniel Walsh in costume.

Needless to say, his appearance drew many Awwws from the female members of the audience.

Hamilton District Youth Theatre continues to go from strength to strength.

Following the great success of Annie, the group will take part in a series of workshops before they start rehearsals for Aladdin, this year’s Christmas pantomime.

However, the group already have one eye on a prospective trip to Toronto, Canada, next year.

It certainly seems the sun will be coming out tomorrow for everyone involved with Hamilton District Youth Theatre.

CAST OF ANNIE

Principals: Annie — Erin Duffy; Miss Hannigan — Nicole Grant; Oliver Warbucks — Stuart Love; Grace — Suzanne Hunt; Lily — Clare Ryan; Rooster — Graham Wylie; Molly — Lauren Tait; Kate — Olivia Keary; Duffy — Hope Keary; Pepper — Molly Miller; July — Joanne Nugent; Tessie — Rachael Cunningham; Mr Bundles — Martyn McCann; Dog Catcher — Thomas Fenwick; Bert Healy — Ross Malley; Drake (Butler) — Mark Paterson; Roosevelt — Alistair Davy.

Company: Nathan Boland, Rachael Brand, Ruth Brandon, Caroline Constable, Jennifer Constable, Erin Craig, Emma Creaney, Megan Curran, Shaun Devlin, Juliette Donnelly, Victoria Donnelly, Susan Douglas, Joseph Duffy, Kym Duguid, Hannah Dunn, Kirsty Feerwick, Lindsay Ferguson, Lucy Ferguson, Michael Ferguson, Carissa Gray, Cara Halliday, Lucy Harris, Katy Hazlie, Lauren Hazlie, Matthew Healy, Abbie Henderson, Lara Henderson, Ruth Jamieson, Lauren Kincaid, Nicole Lamont, Stacey Logan, Callum Love, Rachael Lytton, Sarah MacLean, Rebecca Main, Daniel McAuley, Erin McCullagh, Katie McCullagh, Kieran McDade, Melissa McDade, Stephanie McDade, Niall McGeechan, Declan McKenzie, Heather McKie, Ellis McLaren, Louise McLean, Mhairi McMurray, Daniel Miller, Lisa Miller, Kendal Nicol, Lauren Nicol, Joanne Nugent, Samantha Perrie, Stephen Queen, Paula Queen, Harrison Reilly, Daniella Russo, Marisa Russo, Emma Scullion, Hannah Scullion, Kirsty Smart, Christie Smith, Julie Spence, Amy Stewart, Eve Sullivan, Pepe Marie Terry, Kathleen Toolan, Daniel Walsh, Erin Walsh, Sarah White, Natalie Wotherspoon.

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