Me and My Girl

Wow! Me and My Girl, what a wonderful show! The Towngate is a great venue and this show certainly justified being performed here; testament to a fabulous Director, Vikki Purton, and production team of Louise Christian and Fay Evans.

The show opened with a wonderful overture from the band conducted by Clare Penfold. The music was superb throughout the production and the sound balance was perfect meaning that every word was easily heard.

The show set in the 1930s, tells the story of Londoner Bill Snibson who discovers that he is actually the heir to a huge fortune and the Hareford Estate in Hampshire. Bill has a girlfriend Sally, who is also from Lambeth but there is a culture clash when uncouth Bill tries to fit in with his new wealthy family. The executors of the wealth are Maria, Duchess of Dene and Sir John Tremayne. At first it seems that they will not accept Sally but Maria thinks she can transform Billy into aristocracy. After Sally turns up to a party to which she is not invited with the pearly kings and queens, Sir John warms to her and helps her refine herself enough to be unrecognised at a further party in Bill’s honour. At the end of the show Sally is revealed and the family are reunited.

Complications to this story involve Lady Jaqueline Carstone, originally engaged to The Hon Gerald Basingstoke, who pursues Billy romantically, a host of odd family members and the family solicitor, Mr Parchester.

This show is filled with some great musical numbers performed not only by the principle cast but the entire ensemble. The voices were great and the harmonies and incidentals are on point. The choreography, costumes, make-up and hair/wigs were also excellent and added to the total effect. There was comedy and pathos and so many details that added to the mix. This show is well written and in turn the company brought it to life with aplomb.

Billy was played by the talented Joe Drury. His characterisation was excellent as was his voice, tone and diction. Joe needed to be an all-rounder for this part, dancer, singer, actor and he, and the entire cast certainly did not disappoint. Sally Smith was played by the brilliant Katie Lee. Katie played a simple cockney girl in a relaxed manner with a clear and pure voice. The relationship the two characters developed was sweet and believable.

The sexy and assertive Lady Jaqueline Carstone was played by Nicola Harrington-smith. She played the self-assured Lady with gusto and excellent characterisation. All the characters were well defined, and added to the mix. Jon Tarbard played the naive and stupid The Hon Gerald Basingbroke skilfully; his gait and expression added to the humour and contrasted against the streetwise gregarious Bill.  

Diane Hills played Maria, Duchess of Dene. Diane is a wonderful actress. She played Maria expertly, her voice, her demeanour, her stage presence showed the aristocratic protector of the family fortune accurately. The role of Sir John Tremayne was in the safe hands of Ian Benson. He played quite a shy aristocrat who was obviously in awe of Maria. He had a wonderful ‘growl/bark’ which actually displayed his intentions without using real words. It is Sir John who is the force that brings the family together by helping Sally to learn how to fit in with the family. We see a development of Sir John as he seems to take strength from Sally and Bill to step-up, solve the problems and propose to Maria.

Joe Drury (Snr) played the family solicitor, Parchester, with energy and humour. Joe (Snr) is obviously a very talented actor who brought life to Parchester adding an endearing personality. I particularly enjoyed the way he continually tried to steal the scene.

There were so many other outstanding performances. All the characters were convincing. Fred Woodrow played Lord Jasper with his ear trumpet, the manservant Charles was played by Michael Plant, Sally’s landlady Mrs Brown was played by Sarah Drury, the rest of the family were great, including Lord and lady Battersby who were played by Rob Morley and Eva Romanakova. The ancestors who came to life from the paintings were fun and moved well. Special mention to the ‘hunched’ ancestor, who must have ached! The choreography throughout was excellent, there was good grouping and many types of dance, including some impressive tap dancing. The scenery worked well and the scene changes were seamless.

Every aspect of this production was well executed and very entertaining. I cannot express how much I appreciated the hard work that everyone must have put in to this show. Thanks for inviting me; well done to all.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.