ANNIE TOPS Musical Productions, Princess Theatre, Torquay.

★★★★

FROM curtain up the young cast will blow you away with their professionalism, singing, dance routines and enthusiasm.

The TOPS production is a wise choice showing off the amazing wealth of talents in the Bay and giving them a great opportunity to shine.

Millie Day in the lead role is the obvious star of the show with her vast experience, even at her young age. She has much stage presence and a fine voice.

Most capably supporting her is a raft of orphans who put on the best number of the night in Hard Knock Life. In fact the first three numbers are fantastic. There is a fabulous mixture among the girls but the comedy dished out by Terri Kate Lee as Molly deserves a mention.

The whole cast is strong with some fine character actors among the principal parts with Nick Heath (Rooster Hannigan) and Vicky Nagy (Lily St Regis) standing out. Martin Poveda (Daddy Warbucks) and Tracey Loveridge (Miss Hannigan) also produce believable characters but I felt some of the adult solos didn't live up to the younger counterparts.

And the show's first half was a bit of an endurance battle with a small niece in tow. Running in at one-and-a-half hours it was too long for a family show.

All in all it is definitely another winner and if you want to see some of the talents of Torbay's tomorrow this is the place to be.

ABI PARKES