Annie Cohen Kopchovsky appears at first to embody the American dream: a Latvian Jewish immigrant in Boston, she grew to become in 1895 “the primary lady to cycle around the globe” after reinventing herself as Annie Londonderry. The brand new surname was based mostly on a sponsorship deal and she or he positioned ads on her physique as she circumnavigated the globe.
However there was way more to Annie than the rugged individualism and capitalist “can do” brawn. This musical by Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams, directed by Sarah Meadows, reveals her to be way more nuanced than the feminine Phileas Fogg she seems at first, and even the straightforward image of feminist self-determination for which she got here to be identified on the flip of the twentieth century.
We first meet Annie (Liv Andrusier) after her journey, in an oak-panelled workplace of the “New York World” newspaper, the place she is pitching her life story to an offstage viewers of editors. She ropes within the secretary, Martha (Yuki Sutton), to re-enact her capers within the hope of securing a column.
Annie is a fast-talking self-promoter, not probably the most dependable of aspiring journalists along with her penchant for embellishing the reality. Andrusier, who graduated simply final 12 months, is a firecracker within the half – mild on her toes with a giant, spectacular voice as she sings dramatic numbers just like the title tune. Sutton retains up alongside her, and will get higher as her accompanying roles change into extra characterful.
The music is powerful, if barely samey, though the meat of the story takes a while to succeed in. We pootle alongside jauntily, assembly aristocrats on ocean crossings and encounter a motorcycle confiscation in France. The plot factors don't really feel large enough till nearly an hour into the present once we hear of Londonderry’s marriage and three kids again dwelling, her tragic early household life and her causes for operating away.
This information, alongside along with her love affair with married Harvard professor, Fred Rose (Sutton), who she meets on her journey, undermines the perfect of the American dream by reflecting on all the massive, immovable forces which have labored towards her. The rousing tune The Charmed Existence of Fred Rose speaks of his informal class entitlement and male privilege in stark distinction to her battles.
No matter its shortfalls, it is a soulful musical with its largest asset in Andrusier, who's fascinating to look at all through. A glittering new musical star has certainly been launched.
At Charing Cross theatre, London, till 17 September.
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