Me & My Girl

Me & My Girl – What a fabulous choice for the beginning of a new era in amateur theatre.  This musical has a great deal of humour and comedy interspersed between the delightful melodies of Noel Gay. With its origins in the 1930s, the period in which it is set, the show proceeded to have great success both here in England and on Broadway.  The original stage book was created by L Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber with the injection of revisions by Stephen Fry and Mike Okrent in recent years. The show now runs to great success with amateur societies worldwide.  A show full of well-known lyrics and melodies the audience in Redhill were transported to a bygone age of aristocrats surrounded by plenty of servants.

The programme is superb.  Rarely has a programme been so clear to read, well designed and informative.  One could even read it in the theatre.  The new NODA information had a prominent place complete with QR code.

The set, on two levels, remained throughout the performance.  The simple set dressing and props were moved with speed and efficiency by both cast and crew.  The use of the frames was inspiring - firstly to create windows, then the walls of the Hareford Arms, then the portrait frames in the library and finally the walls of Capstan Street - really good use of time and space.

The lighting was creative and well managed.  The sound was good – from the opening overture where the orchestra was perfectly balanced to the very last note. 

The opening tableau was most impressive with both aristocrats and staff dressed for a weekend house party. The costumes were most appropriate throughout.

The orchestra was superb - the tone, the balance and the volume were all spot on. The orchestral arrangement really gave the impression there were far more of them than there were because of the breadth of sound that was created but with very sympathetic accompaniment of the singers.

The show opened on a splendid tableau of well-dressed aristocrats and servants, and they introduced the show with the uplifting number ‘A Weekend in Hareford’.  Bill Snibson, requires a very flexible actor with skills in all departments acting (both straight and comedy,) dancing and singing – Gareth Thomas really took on the role, grasped it and headed up the cast with style.  The aristocratic principals all maintained their characters throughout both in speech and body language.  The interplay between the Gerald the bumbling Hon Gerald played by Jamie McFadden was well matched with Michelle Radcliffe as Lady Jacqueline.  The latter’s scene with Bill, whilst trying to ‘educate’ him, was hilarious and very well played with just the right amount of ‘leg’.

Mark Nicholson played the part of the solicitor, Herbert Parchester with panache, great diction and sprightly dancing.  The Duchess’s ‘Song of Hareford’ was beautifully sung  by Jill Day, and made a distinct contrast to the style of the show’s music.  .  A well-balanced cast who danced their way through in great style enhanced by a balanced orchestra.

All in all, it was a splendid evening of fun, music singing and dancing but above all humour.  The audience were thoroughly appreciative of all the effort that had been put in to stage this super show

The whole team is to be congratulated on such a fine evening's entertainment.   We are so fortunate to have such fine talent in our midst.

 

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