JO Wood enjoyed a final rehearsal of North Devon All Starz' Annie Jr which will be staged at Grosvenor Church, Barnstaple from Thursday, August 12 to Saturday, August 14 at 7.30pm. Profits from the show will be donated to the charity Action for Children which cares for vulnerable children.

IT'S not my favourite show, by a long way. There's something about the sweeter-than-pie orphan Annie that makes me want to throttle her. Usually, that is. But then there was Chelsea.

It's one of those 'turned up to auditions to support a friend and never expected to be cast' stories that are the stuff of musical folklore. But however she got there, director Tolley Angell must be thanking his lucky stars that he's discovered 13-year-old Chelsea Parkin. She's utterly unspoilt and natural, has a clear delivery with the right accent, and she never lets the cutesy dialogue sink into schmaltz.

When you have a central role played so strongly it's that much easier for the rest of the cast. The team of girls at the Municipal Orphanage are 21st century girls. They stomp about with their brooms and buckets, and heaps of attitude. No little matchgirls here, even though some of them are only eight.

Fran Kiff is really enjoying herself as the lush Miss Hannigan. She's got the walk, and the slightly slurred delivery, and is completely tortured by her "Little Girls". Her brother Rooster, a small-time conman, is played with style by Billy Buckingham. He has his hands full with the delectable Lily St Regis (Charlotte Passmore) whose shrill voice keeps them all in place. Their Easy Street number is a delight.

You might notice a passing resemblance between Rooster and the millionaire Daddy Warbucks, possibly because they are played by twins Billy and Jordan Buckingham, but their performances are not similar at all. Daddy Warbucks oozes the confidence of wealth. His PA, the uber-smart Grace Farrell, is played by Daisy Ivan.

It's in Daddy Warbucks' mansion that we get the best whole cast dance numbers. Servants and townsfolk are all right on top of the inventive and quick choreography, by Helen Cole. I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here and NYC will have you wishing you could press repeat.

What I saw was a run through rehearsal which was impressive enough, but with costume, a dog, and an imaginative set (trust me, I've seen the plans and it's going to be cool) this is a show you really shouldn't miss.

Yes: take gran along, but don't make her go alone. You'll enjoy it too. Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased now from Landkey Post Office or, if available, on the door before each performance.