WORDS & MUSIC

A VERY STRONG 'COMPANY' PRODUCTION

Sandwiched in the middle of this mouth-watering couplet WWOS find themselves on slightly more familiar ground with their second production of the much-loved musical, Me and My Girl. The now-regular production duo of: Director, Kevin Gauntlett and Musical Director, John Hargreaves paired up for this Winter serving with WWOS Choreographer, Jacqui Morris and Lighting Designer, Ivan Buckle, to bring the 70-year-old tale of Bill and Sally to Bromley’s Churchill Theatre - the stage where, only a few weeks ago, you could have caught Lesley Garrett belting out You’ll Never Walk Alone in Carousel’s pre-West End tour of the UK.

When I visit societies such as WWOS it never ceases to amaze me how an amateur musical society is able to produce the infrastructure to enable it to move into a professional venue - like the Churchill Theatre, Bromley – on a Sunday morning and two days later raise the curtain on a fully-functional musical production complete with band, polished choreography, advanced lighting and sound set-ups and, of course, a rehearsed and raring-to-go fifty-strong cast. But they do, up and down the country, in fact, month in - month out …there is surely no other country in the world where this happens?

The popular story of Me and My Girl is surely known to all, but in case you’re not familiar with the way they walk in Lambeth, here’s a quick plot summary:

Basically the Earl of Hareford has died apparently leaving no heir. The family members have come together to hear how the estate will be split. However, the family’s solicitor announces that he has actually managed to track down an heir to both the family fortune and the family seat of Hareford Hall. Bill Snibson, a wide-boy from Lambeth, is the unlikely inheritant to the title and fortune. Maria, the Duchess, decides to turn Bill into a worthy gentleman. She also tries to get him to marry Lady Jaqueline (who is all-too-eager for the money, and the title). Despite Lady Jaqueline's advances, Bill is determined to marry his Lambeth girlfriend, Sally Smith. Sally doesn't want to ruin Bill's chances and tries to convince Bill that he is too good for her, even though she loves him dearly. Sally decides to leave Hareford and return to Lambeth. But Bill and Sir. John make separate plans to bring her back. Bill travels to Lambeth to find her but returns empty handed - as Sir. John has packed her off to a speech professor he knows. The Duchess throws another party but Bill isn't up for it and soon the Duchess starts to realise how much he is in love with Sally. Lady Jaqueline also recognises that her own situation is hopeless and returns to her fiancée, Gerald. Once the party gets going, Sally makes a second uninvited entrance and – in true Eliza Doolittle style - elegantly shows she is a suitable wife for an Earl. Yes, a happy ending!

Throw in sixteen songs including such favourites as Me and My Girl, The Lambeth Walk, The Sun Has Got His Hat On and Leaning on a Lamp Post, and you’ve got a sure-fire hit!

Jonathan Faint gave a confident and self-assured performance as rags to riches newcomer Bill Snibson. His cheeky fish-out-of-water portrayal kept the audience entertained throughout with great comic timing and musical ability. Susan Wilcock, as Bill’s girl, Sally, was equally up to the task showing a fine voice with her solo ‘Once You Lose Your Heart’. Other stand-out performances came from the ever-reliable Pat Adams as Maria, Duchess of Dene; Jo Davies as Lady Jaqueline, who brought plenty of laughs from the stalls during ‘You Would if You Could’ as she attempts to seduce Bill; and Kevin Gauntlett as Sir. John Tremayne (a suspiciously self-appointed role?). You have to be good if you’re going to direct and then give yourself a large role to play. Luckily for Mr. Gauntlett, he was very good - his highlight of the evening, without doubt, was the drunk library scene when he sings ‘Love Makes the World Go Round’ with Bill.

This was a very strong ‘Company’ production and Jacqui Morris pulled off an amazing – near impossible – job choreographing over fifty people with various routines. None more so than during the big Act One finale ‘The Lambeth Walk’. Love it or hate it, you can’t stop your feet (and spoons) tapping. Other great company numbers included ‘An English Gentleman’ and ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’ as well as a fine routine to Leaning on a Lamp Post by Bill and the the WWOS dance ensemble.

One of the big challenges in directing these large-scale shows is using the huge (in this case) Churchill stage. One moment you’re getting two people to command the vast space and five minutes later you’re trying to fit the whole company into every nook and cranny. Generally, this was achieved very well although I felt the early will-reading scene, where Bill first steps into Hareford Hall, would have benefited from a little more imagination in moving the all-too-static cast around. Some much-needed pace wouldn’t have gone astray either. Maybe a slight flaw …when, by choice, the director is onstage acting rather than observing? Nonetheless, these are mere niggles. It was evident to see the whole company and its audience were having much fun.

Ten out of ten for staging and set design. (The kitchen scene did look remarkably similar to the kitchen from last Summer’s Annie Warbucks, but I think we’ll happily let that that one go).

There are now exciting and challenging times ahead for WWOS. The Producers is going to require some great performances from the best this company has to offer. I wonder if our talented Director will be able to resist casting himself for that one. Methinks possibly not. His presence may well be required.

WWOS will be presenting The Producers from 20th – 23rd May 2009 at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

Call WWOS on 020 8462 5824 or....... The Churchill Theatre, Bromley on 0870 060 6620.

Sardines Magazine

SOCIETY DELIVERS PERFECT WINTER ANDIDOTE

WEST Wickham Operatic Society’s wonderful production of Me and My Girl last week proved to be the perfect antidote to these dreary winter evenings, writes Mark Campbell. As usual, the ambitious amateur group took over The Churchill theatre, Bromley, attracting a large and appreciative audience in the process. With music by Noel Gay and book and lyrics by LArthur Rose and Douglas Furber, Me and My Girl was first performed in 1937. But thanks to new material supplied by Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent, it still feels as fresh as a daisy. It’s also extremely funny, with a modern injectionof Carry On-style innuendo and silly puns to distract from the rather creaky class-obsessed plot.

Jonathan Faint was a delightful Bill Snibson,the cheerful Cockney who suddenly finds himself heir to a fortune. He had more than a touch of the young Michael Barrymore about him as he darted around the stage gently mocking the upper class toffs and falling prey to the undoubted charms of Lady Jaqueline Carstone. Jo Davies was hilariously sexy as the aforesaid posh temptress who tries to come between Bill and his lower-class girlfriend Sally. As the latter, Susan Wilcock was a bright, naïve presence whose engaging voice came into her own with such songs as Once You Lose Your Heart and Take It On The Chin. Me and My Girl, although the title song, is not nearly so catchy as The Lambeth Walk and Leaning on a Lamp Post, but all three were delivered with style and panache and backed by a big and enthusiastic chorus.

Director Kevin Gauntlett cast himself in the plum role of dotty Sir John Tremayne and gave us a masterclass in ‘comedy drunk’ acting alongside an equally funny Jonathan Faint in Act 2. Terry Gauntlett, Peter Fiorini and Pat Adams were all very good, but Paul Mount stole the show as the effeminate family solicitor whose attempts to break into song were thwarted at almost every turn. Give the man his own show, I say!

John Hargreaves’ band were appropriately bright and cheerful (if occasionally a little too loud to hear the vocals), while slick choreography by Jacqui Morris coupled with professional sourced stage sets added up to anevening of pure rose-tinted nostalgia.

Kentish Times (Bexley Edition)

Thursday 4 December 2008

2. What a super show, we really enjoyed it.... one of the ladies who came with me said she hadn't realised it was an amateur show until the interval.  You all did so well, I can see you playing the Queen next (Helen Mirren eat your heart out) Thrilled that it seems to be such a success, if Saturday's audience was anything to go by..so much fun and enthusiasm....well done.