Me and My Girl

Yet another great trip down memory lane for me. I can’t believe it was 25
years ago when I last did this show. I do remember how much fun we had
and how much energy was needed to pull off this big family musical. This
certainly didn’t disappoint me tonight, from Bill and Sally right down to every
ensemble member, the energy and enjoyment came across so well.
Thank you so much for the lovely warm welcome on arrival. You have an
excellent front of house team, everyone is made so welcome. Coming home
to BOS is like returning to family. Thank you. I really liked the program. Very
professional. I shall certainly be putting this forward for the program awards
next year.
As soon as the first note was struck I knew we were on to a winner sound
wise. I love it when your made to sit up and take notice. Lovely surround
sound. Every piece of orchestra could be heard and the balance was
excellent throughout. From my seat I could see the audience bobbing along
to the overture. A great atmosphere was created from the off. This production
really did burst with charm from the opening number (which I really enjoyed).
We saw colour, energy and good harmony singing shining through in “A
Weekend At Hereford”. The casts enthusiasm, shared a sense of fun which
carried through the evening. What made the evening so enjoyable wasn’t just
the classic humour and music, but the genuine joy the performers brought to
the stage.
The direction captured the playful spirit of the musical, while keeping the
story moving at a steady pace. The set design was impressively ambitious,
though it times it felt a little large for the theatre, which made some scene
changes a bit clunky. Even so, the company handled these moments with
professionalism, and it never disrupted the overall enjoyment of the show.

The one scene that didn’t work for me was the preparation for the Hareford
Hall evening. There were couples singing as they were getting ready and you
really couldn’t tell who was singing what, this was purely because they were
set so far back and with the criss cross of the windows they were quite
hidden and shadowed. My own suggestion would have been to have had
them set down front in pools of light so it would have made the scene a lot
clearer, just my thoughts.
I did get a sense that rehearsal time was used well and characterisation and
performances were well thought through, but maybe when you got to the
stage the technicalities threw the production slightly off-balance.
Nevertheless everyone powered through and still came up with an extremely
crowd pleasing production. Audiences certainly went home delighted.
COSTUMES (Sarah-Jane Smith and team)
You deserve huge credit for your work. Even though they were hired in, it still
takes an enormous amount of organisation to manage a company of this
size, taking measurements, sourcing pieces, fitting, adjusting, and dealing
with the inevitable last-minute hiccups. I’m sure there were challenges behind
the scenes, but if so, they were handled with real professionalism. Aside from
a couple of pairs of trousers that came up a little short, and the classic black
trousers with white socks moment (which honestly made me smile) the
costumes were cohesive, flattering, and very pleasing on the eye. A huge well
done to the whole team. Also a huge shout out to the Dressers this is no
mean feat for anyone, a great team effort.
HAIR AND MAKE-UP
Congratulations to both teams. I felt the wigs looked particularly good
especially on the principals, well done The Hair Hub. Hair felt very in keeping
with the period, looked like a lot of attention was spent on this. Make up too
was very striking. The men looked very natural which was good whereas the
ladies worked well overall and helped to show the difference between the
upper classes and the more ordinary folk. I liked the more sharper, polished
look on Lady Jaqueline and The Duchess in particular. The softer more
natural look matched the personalities of the ensemble. Good job team.
CHOREOGRAPHY (Shelley Smith)
Having worked with you before I know what a taskmaster you are. You have a
gift for creating clever pictures, clean shaping, and thoughtful use of the
space. You are also very good at bringing out the best in every performer and
at the same time, challenging them. Tailoring movement so each cast
member shines in their own way. The routines felt alive, well paced, and
visually striking, and the ensemble clearly thrived under your direction. Good
work.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR (Matt Tilke)
Not a lot to say under this, just looking at the calibre of musicians we just
knew this was gonna be tight. When a great orchestra has the backup of
excellent sound, you’re onto a winner. Every musician was heard clearly and
it was obvious how much hard work had been put into teaching and learning
harmonies. I enjoyed how all the soloists felt confident under your direction.
Great job done.
BILL SNIBSON (Kofi)
What stood out most in this performance was the sheer commitment you
brought to the role of Bill Snibson, a part that demands charm, stamina,
comic timing, and a mountain of dialogue. For a first major role you delivered
a performance that was not only impressive, but genuinely exciting to watch,
showing us a talent with real potential.
You clearly put in the hours, your work with the director often rehearsing most
evenings in the week (I understand) paid off in a portrayal that you fully
inhabited. You looked exactly right for Bill, capturing the cheeky warmth and
wide eye enthusiasm that makes the character so beloved.
Comedy is notoriously difficult and even seasoned performers spend years
learning how to land a line with precision. There were moments when your
dialogue ran a touch fast, meaning the humour didn’t always have time to
land before the next queue arrived. But this is the kind of skill that only grows
with experience, and the audience could see the foundations of excellent
comic timing already forming.
What mattered most was that you held the stage with confidence, energy,
and authenticity. The audience agreed, this was an exceptional debut. You
brought heart, humour, and a real sense of fun to the role, and that
enthusiasm was infectious. This performance puts you in excellent stead for
future roles, and I have no doubt you will continue to grow rapidly as you gain
more stage time and experience. I look forward to seeing what you do next.
The potential is unmistakable. Well done, I doff my bowler hat!
SALLY SMITH (Jess)
Congratulations this was a performance full of warmth, grit, and real vocal
power. Your range was impressive throughout, but what really elevated the
role was the gutsier, more determined side of Sally that you brought forward.
It gave the character a refreshing edge and made your journey feel genuinely
earned.
Your partnership with Bill was a highlight. The two of you looked perfectly
matched on stage and built a natural, easy chemistry. You played off each
other with confidence and timing, creating a duo the audience could root for
from the start.

The spats with the family were sharply delivered and beautifully timed, adding
humour and tension in all the right places. “Once You Lose Your Heart”
became a true high point sung with clarity and emotional lift, while Lambeth
Walk had all the grit, swagger, and style it needed to bring the house down.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, engaging performance that captured the spirit
of Me and My Girl while giving Sally a bold memorable presence, well done.
MARIA, DUCHESS OF DENE (Clarey)
This was a commanding and elegant performance grounding the production
with authority and poise. You carried the unmistakable presence of the
household’s matriarch, firm, dignified, and entirely believable in your role as
the families guiding force. Your strong performance was matched by a
consistently polished visual presence. You looked great in every costume,
reinforcing your characters social standing without ever overshadowing the
performance itself.
What stood out most was the balance you struck, a Duchess who was
formidable yet human, strict yet never cold. That nuance made her
interactions with the rest of the cast feel lived-in and authentic, adding depth
to the world of the show. A confident, stylish and thoroughly convincing
portrayal of the head of the household.
SIR JOHN TREMAYNE (Barry)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. You are always a joy to watch.
You have a remarkable focus and energy, bringing sharp comic timing to
every scene. Even when moments don’t go entirely to plan, you stay fully in
character, never letting the illusion slip. Every look, wink, and nod felt
intentional, each one adding humour, detail and charm. You prove yourself as
a terrific role model for the younger cast members, showing them what
commitment and stagecraft look like in real time. A truly assured and
generous performance.
LADY JACQUELINE CARSTONE (Jessica)
You delivered a lively, polished performance full of spark, charm, and vocal
confidence. Your great energy lit up every scene you stepped into and your
strong singing gave the character real presence without ever feeling forced.
You look consistently lovely on stage and your openness as a team player
helped scenes flow naturally around you.
“You would if you could” was especially enjoyable playful, stylish, and well
delivered. I did feel there was room to push the humour just a little further, to
really bring out the comic potential that sits inside that number. Even so the
choices made were thoughtful, intentional and cleverly shaped with care.
Overall a nicely thought through engaging performance that added colour
and momentum to the production.

GERALD BOLINGBROKE (Toby)
You certainly captured the character’s earnest charm well, offering a
believable, slightly flustered suitor whose intentions were always clear and
engaging. A good singing voice which gave the role a confident musical
foundation, and proved yourself a great team player supporting scenes
generously and keeping the energy buoyant around you. Your efforts to win
over Jacqueline were especially enjoyable, sincere, playful, and nicely judged.
I did feel there were moments where the character could have been pushed
a little further, particularly in the comedy. Gerald has so much potential for
heightened awkwardness, bigger reactions and more playful emotional
swings, and exploring those could unlock even more humour. That said, the
performance already felt thoughtful, grounded and well shaped, with a clear
sense of who the character is and how he fits into the story.
HERBERT PARCHESTER (Andrew)
Well, you certainly brought an infectious energy to the production and all the
scenes you were a part of. Your comic timing and physicality suited the role
perfectly creating a Portchester who was both memorable and irresistibly fun
to watch. Your movement was sharp, confident, and fully in character,
embracing the choreography with a very cheeky grin. You remained focus
and fully in character throughout giving us a performance that was polished,
fun and consistently entertaining.
SUPPORTING CAST AND ENSEMBLE
The supporting cast brought great charm and consistency to the show. Each
smaller role was played with clear focus and commitment, adding colour and
humour and individual personalities. This really helped the flow of the show.
The ensemble were tight and well rehearsed and they supported the main
action with confident character choices, strong reactions and smooth
transitions. I particularly liked the opening number, the ensemble energy was
incredibly high with a nice array of colourful costumes. Fabulous opening.
DIRECTOR (Ros Dolding)
Taking on the director’s role for Me And My Girl was a brave undertaking, and
it’s clear how much heart went into bringing such a large show to life.
Whilst some of the staging choices leaned towards a more old-fashioned
style, and the stage occasionally felt a little bare with the stately home
furniture pushed to the edges rather than gathered to focus the action, the
overall storytelling still came through.

The slightly bright lighting made it harder at times to build atmosphere, but
the cast (who were beautifully chosen) brought real energy and charm to the
production. The extra time spent with Bill during rehearsals to develop his
characterisation paid off in spades, and I’m sure others gathered that
experience also. Ultimately you can’t argue with an audience who were on
their feet cheering before the final note had even faded. A huge well done for
keeping the BOS flag flying high.
Thanks so much BOS for a lovely evening and your very kind hospitality.
Best wishes
Mike

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