IT may be a hard-knock life for Annie, but the musical being staged at the Hall for Cornwall was just the ticket for a top evening of entertainment.

The vibrant revival of the classic family favourite provides a dazzling backdrop to the 1930s depression era tale of the spunky, optimistic red-headed orphan searching for her birth parents.

Claire Sweeney (Miss Hannigan) and young company (Picture: Paul Coltas)
Claire Sweeney (Miss Hannigan) and young company (Picture: Paul Coltas)

The brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks but the spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.

The audience was equally rooting for the lovable orphan Annie and laughing at the deliciously over-the-top villainy of Miss Hannigan throughout the show, which featured all the iconic numbers including Maybe, N.Y.C, Tomorrow, It's the Hard Knock Life and Tomorrow, its defining, wildly optimistic anthem.

Claire Sweeney delivers a scenery-chewing, sharply comic performance as the cruel gin-soaked Miss Hannigan.

Alex Bourne, who plays Warbucks, portrayed a convincing transformation of the grumpy, work-consumed businessman to doting father figure as he warms to Annie.

Tanisha-Mae Brown was effortlessly glamorous and poised as Grace Farrell, his thoughtful and elegant assistant while Christian Cooper and Amber Kennedy deliver stand-out performances as the unscrupulous villainous duo Rooster Hannigan and Lily St. Regis.

The star cast were flanked by a formidable flock of orphans played by Marnie Rae Warren-Baker, Thandie Lalji, Dolly Ismail, Amber Koduah-Hutchison, Maddy Collings and Jemima Lown.

The detailed sets realistically capture the stark contrast between dingy New York orphanage life and Oliver Warbucks' opulent mansion.

Annie has remained a musical theatre favourite for the past 50 years. This performance being staged at the Hall for Cornwall until Sunday, October 4, shows just why with its colourful characters, unforgettable music and feel-good, rags-to-riches story. It is impossible to leave the theatre without a smile on your face.