Me and My Girl

This popular show with its well remembered and loved music and story of rags to riches, was always going to be a sure fire success with the Saturday matinee audience. The white hair brigade was out in force and there was barely a seat to be had as the audience sang along to the old favorites during the overture from the first rate orchestra.

As the curtains opened we found ourselves watching members of the house party on their way to Hareford Hall for the announcement of the new Earl of Hareford. The ‘clever car’ created from the passengers luggage was a treat for the eye particularly when on arrival it was dismantled by the servants. The scenery was quite beautiful and worked so well to allow pace and fluidity to the show. Seamless changes were enhanced by using the well dressed servants to move large and small props with precision. The beautiful costumes were totally in keeping with the period and were worn well by all the cast.

There was not much call for inventive lighting or effects in this production, so  you demonstrated bright fresh scenes with no problems. I appreciated the special effect of misty smoke in the ‘Leaning on a Lamp-post’ dance. The choreography was fresh and inventive, and performed very well. The dancers were so well rehearsed the dance looked effortless and the tap routines were a delight. The whole score was very well understood by the MD, he controlled an excellent orchestra, which never over powered the cast or company singing. The chorus singing was of a very high standard and ‘The Lambeth Walk’ was delightful.

The director had managed to give the production a fresh clean approach which worked so well (considering the age of the original show). Perhaps this is the perennial appeal of this evergreen musical… don’t modernize it, but keep it slick and fast moving. The humour in the show (of which there was plenty) was quite brilliantly portrayed especially by Adam Hunter (Bill) and had the audience roaring with laughter on occasions. But it takes an astute director to control the ‘funny bits whilst bringing out every moment! I was slightly disappointed by the ‘ancestor’s scene’. There were not really enough ancestors to make that ‘big impact’. I realise this was because of the lack of male cast to perform these parts, such a shame because I’m sure male performers would have enjoyed this show. (This is an ongoing problem for most societies, especially encouraging younger men on stage, but it seems to apply to the choice of production and no society has the luxury of a stable cast these days!).

The principal performers in this company (of which there were many) were all well cast and performed well. Each added to the excellence of the whole show. As I have just said, they were all very good but there were three members of the cast who were outstanding. Sir John Tremayne, played by Les Morley, doesn’t really demonstrate  his skills as an performer until act two, and then ‘wow’, what an entertaining, and comic performance, very well done. Samantha Payne as Sally Smith was a star in her own right as Bill Snibson’s understanding and sympathetic girlfriend. She could act, dance and sing very well and she brought the character to life. I loved this performance. But the plaudits of the show must go to Adam Hunter’s for his outstanding performance as Bill Snibson. This was one of finest portrayals of the part I have seen. His timing was impeccable… a lovable cheeky chap, who never missed an opportunity of a move or a look to make the audience laugh. A natural comedian, who can sing act and dance and who in his first major principal role took on this massive role and triumphed. I will remember his comic antics with the robe and the tiger skin for a long time. (I laughed out loud).

This was a fine production of an evergreen musical, slick, fresh, clean, attractive and beautifully performed.

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