I was so excited to get a last-minute invite to review this first performance of Annie at the New Theatre, Oxford, as the show continues its UK tour. I’ve seen the original John Huston film, many moons ago, but other than that I must admit to knowing very little about the stage show, other than Miss Hannigan takes centre stage on the poster, usually.Having heard nothing but great things about the wonderful, much missed Paul O’Grady in the role, I was intrigued to see how super-Strictly villain Craig Revel Horwood shaped up.

It's safe to say I wasn’t disappointed.And neither were the rest of the packed audience, from the whoops and cheers that continued throughout the performance. So lovely to see the theatre so busy and full of life again, after the bleakness of the last few years.The audience for Annie doesn’t really cover one main demographic – young and old and everything in between were milling around as the doors opened, with a merry anticipation of the night’s entertainment.

It’s funny how a show based in a rather glum era (1930s New York – Wall Street has crashed, and shanty ‘Hooverville’ towns are popping up everywhere due to unemployment) can be so very joyous.It would be difficult for even the sullenest of theatre-goers not to eventually get caught up in the high energy enthusiasm of the show. It’s the young orphans who set the fast pace right from the start, with brilliant performances across the board.'Tonight’s eponymous little red-head was performed by Harlie Barthram, and what a powerhouse of a voice that young actor has! Note-perfect throughout, and with all the sass required to play Little Orphan Annie, she really is the star of the show, regardless of what the poster says. However, her four-legged stray friend, Sandy (the role shared by three beautiful golden retrievers Darcy, Boris and Lily from Urban Paws) comes a close second, winning the hearts of everyone each time they sauntered onto or across the stage, their motivation mainly being the hunt for treats, one suspects!

Of course, the aforementioned “poster-girl” for this tour is the dreadful, cruel, and mostly drunk Miss Hannigan. For the Oxford leg of the tour audiences are treated to the delectable Craig Revel Horwood, who eats up the scenery with relish and seems to be enjoying his role every bit as much as the audience who have flocked to see him.With legs to die for and killer moves, Horwood is a wicked delight, whether Hannigan is torturing her charges with their never-ending chores or bemoaning her lot in life (‘Little Girls’) as she stumbles around her cluttered office, occasionally stopping to grab another bottle of gin from her neatly stacked fridge. But it is the spectacular rendition of ‘Easy Street’ alongside Rooster and Lily that really showcases Horwood and his fellow cast members talents. Paul French’s Rooster (Miss Hannigan’s shifty brother) is brash and devious and more than a little bit creepy as he attempts to rob his sister, before plotting to con billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks out of $50,000 by pretending to be Annie’s father. With his shameless beau Lily (excellently played by Billie Kay), the trio of sly degenerates strut and flaunt around the stage in spectacular style while raising a few blushes with a saucy flash of leg or two. On the opposite end of the scale we have Alex Bourne playing an irascible Daddy Warbucks who is quickly won over by Annie when she is brought to him by his beautiful, faithful secretary, Grace (played by a magnificent Amelia Adams). Both actors have a wonderful, warming stage presence (and tremendous voices), perfectly pitched for their loving characters.

Colin Richmond’s set and costume design is rich with colour and depth, from the unclean, tattered outfits worn by the young girls in the orphanage, to the dazzling, demure dresses of Warbucks’ swanky Christmas/adoption soiree. From the very beginning of the show, where the stage is set in the murky orphanage dormitory, the diminutive size of Miss Hannigan’s wards is highlighted by the huge door to that room, and then later, similarly, the doors to both Hannigan’s office and Warbucks’ mansion. The set moves smoothly from scene to scene and there are so many brilliant, set pieces in between scenes, thanks to the fabulous choreography of Nick Winston.

I could rattle on into so much more detail than I already have, but ultimately, if you haven’t got tickets – get them now! The show is on until Saturday 22^nd April at the New Theatre, and it is really a joy to behold. And you may just leave with a bit of a crush on a certain Mr Revel Horwood.