Me and My Girl

St Cuthbert’s rose to the challenge admirably with this fine production of ‘Me and My Girl’. As everyone knows, this musical of yesteryear was given an overhaul by Stephen Fry, became a renewed success in the 1980s and still remains a firm favourite with audiences today. A show packed full of fun, catchy tunes and old favourites, witty dialogue and sunshine in its heart from curtain up to grand finalé, this is show which is just the tonic for our troubled times. SCAODS gave a large and appreciative audience a thoroughly carefree few hours of musical fun and laughter which was spot on.

Our hero, Bill Snibson - cockney chancer and loveable rogue - finds himself elevated to the position of Earl of Hareford but must learn all the tricks of the aristocratic trade before he can take his place among the nobility. It’s a very demanding part and offers great opportunities for an able performer to shine - and Jamie Gane was superb. Jamie really ‘got’ the character and delivered a wonderful performance, inhabiting the character like a second skin. Charming, witty, agile, Jamie was every inch the cheeky barrow boy and won the hearts of the audience immediately. Despite a comical hint of the ‘Frank Spencer’ in his portrayal, Jamie never lost the harder edge needed remind the audience of the fact that here was a character from the streets who relies on his sharp wits (and dubiously sharp practices) to survive. I’ve been involved with a great many productions of ‘Me and My Girl’ over the years and I can say without hesitation that this was just about the best ‘Bill’ I’ve seen on stage. Great work Jamie. No leading man can flourish without his leading lady to help him along the right path and we were also blessed with a great Sally in the shape of Marina Murray. Mastering the accent with aplomb, Marina brought warmth, fun and great vocals to her feisty portrayal. There was instant chemistry between the two and the palpable strength of their relationship added depth and feeling to what can otherwise sometimes be a light and flimsy little tale. Hard working Marina also contributed to choreography duties too - I take my (bowler) hat off to you my girl!

Heading up the aristocratic resistance movement, we were further blessed with Heather Nicholas and Robin Reid as The Duchess and Sir John, a great comic pairing. Heather is one of the North West’s best (and underrated) musical comedy talents and always brings so much to the stage: the twinkle, the sparkle and the wit she brings to every performance is always a joy to behold and she made the Duchess another stage character to add her long list of triumphs. Robin likewise always gives eye-catching jollity and bags of humour to the stage and his Sir John was a delight. Both performers excelled in conveying their characters’ softening attitudes, from resisting Bill the outsider at the outset, then warming to his charms and accepting him as ‘one of us’. With the added blossoming of romance between the unlikely couple thrown in for good measure, Heather and Robin made for a perfect pair.

The rest of the cheeky upper crust toffs were also brought to life in glorious technicolour. Leading the way as Gerald and Lady Jaquie, Richard Parrish and Marcia Turner did sterling work as the comically mis-matched couple. I particularly enjoyed Richard’s very individual take on the character of Gerald: approaching the role as a cross between Violet Elizabeth Bott and Mr Toad, his Gerald was every inch the spoilt and bewildered nitwit and his was a masterstroke of reinvention. I seem to have spent what feels like half of my life playing various Geralds here there and everywhere over the years and it was especially refreshing - from a personal point of view - to see Richard bring something fresh and new to the role. Marcia also impressed as Lady Jaqueline, making it quite clear which side she’d like her bread buttered and there was no doubt that here was a lady who would stop at nothing to make sure she came out on top!

Lord and Lady Battersby were in the more than capable hands of Craig Fletcher and Rachel Barrowclough. The tipsy Lord B was portrayed with excellent comical skill by Craig and Rachel’s battle-axe Lady B gave no quarter in attempting to clamp down on her dozy husband’s boozing: again, here was a really impressive duo giving thought and attention to their characterisations. 

One of my favourite characters in the show is that of the ‘family solicitor’, Mr Parchester, who was brought to life with impish glee by John McNabb. Delighting the audience with his wit and wisdom, John is another performer who always brigs a ray of sunshine to the stage and the audience loved his every appearance. Lawrence Whittaker made merry onstage as the aurally challenged Sir John and Ben Atkinson was a wonderfully subversive butler in the form of the sardonic Charles. With nary a weak link among them, the ‘household’ came together as a wonderful ensemble of individual creations. 

Representing the ‘real world’ in Act 2 - and it’s here that the show gives the opportunity for some scene stealing cameo roles - David Johnson as Bob Barking, Helen Pollard as Mrs Brown and Ian Parrish as the Constable all rose to the challenge, seizing on the opportunity to really ham it up and give some full throated and fully fleshed-out comical turns.

Given the inevitable restrictions inherent in staging a technically challenging show such as this in the relatively small playing space at St Cuthbert’s, the technical business of sorting out scene changes, lighting, sound, props and everything else which comes with putting on a show such as this was all managed really well. I may be wrong but I seemed to detect a larger than usual orchestra too which added much to the production. Costumes were all pin-sharp and the whole show bounced off the stage in a riot of colour, good hearted cheer and a real sense of fun. The ensemble was well drilled in both music and movement and it was wonderful to see such a varied and diverse gang of enthusiastic performers on stage in good old Burnley. Janis and Marina gave us some commendably entertaining choreography (especially impressive was the choreography in the drawing room in Act 1 which can often drag) and the whole production exuded warmth, friendliness and a real community spirit.

I could spend some more time on a couple of extra paragraphs detailing my favourite bits - and perhaps another on minor gripes and moans - in my capacity as a NODA ‘boffin’ but I shan’t: it seems to be rather a waste of time these days to exceed my remit and start getting especially specific and offer what may be considered to be objectionably personal opinions. I’ll end by saying that Janet, Leslie and Mick - along with Janis and Marina - fronting the ‘on-stage’ production team did a sterling job in working with the cast and putting a very personal stamp on the show. Likewise the staging and technical team, along with the hard working backstage crew, all pulled together to present a memorable evening in the theatre. 

This was a production which had a real ‘family’ feel to it: a real sense of community and the homely glow of music, comedy with a big heart pervaded the venue. My thanks go to everyone involved, on stage, back stage and front of house for a truly rewarding experience.

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