Production Details
- Dates: 12th – 16th February 2002
- Venue: Gala Theatre
- Director: Fred Wharton
- Musical Director: George Hetherington
- Choreographer: Janet Dixon & Kathleen Knox
Synopsis
Bill Snibson, a Lambeth costermonger, is revealed to be the New Earl of Hareford and his newly-discovered aristocratic relations are horrified. Bringing him to Hareford Hall, they attempt to educate Bill into the ways of the gentry and seperate him from his cockney girlfriend.
This “comical cockney comedy” features an abundance of well-known “toe -tapping” songs (including “Lambeth Walk“, “The Sun Has Got His Hat On” and “Leaning On A Lamppost“).
This version was rewritten by Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent and first presented at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre in 1985 with Robert Lindsay and Emma Thompson.
Cast
Principals
- Bill Snibson – Anthony Smith
- Sally Smith – Delia McNally
- Maria – Eileen Glenton
- Lady Jaqueline Carstone – Nikki Hellmuth
- The Hon. Gerald Bolingbroke – Glen Moore
- Sir John Tremayne – Laurence Scott
- Lord Battersby – Tony Harries
- Lady Battersby – Carol Gardner
- Sir Jasper Tring – Alan Ball
- Herbert Parchester – Olly Burton
- Charles – Harry Dallard
- Bob Barking – Muir Hewitt
- Mrs Brown – Helen Harries
- The Constanble – Bev Thompson
- Lady Brighton – Valenda Taylor
- Mrs Worthington-Worthington – Audrey Robson
- Sophia Stanley-Asherton – Margaret Graham
- Major-Domo – Peter Clapham
- Telegraph Boy – Graeme Walton
The Company
Anne-Marie Ashman, Ruth Ball, Alison Banks, Caroline Banks, Denise Beckford, Jackie Billinge, Rosemary Cleasby, Liz Cairns, Elizabeth Clapham, Bryony Cooper, Dooren Cothay, Shelia Cottle, Janet Dixon, Rebecca Dixon, Christine Dobbie, Anouska Drion, Veronica Elleson, Allison Feasey, Helen Flanagan, Karen Gallagher, Mary Gordon, Barbara Gray, Chris Grief, Helen Harries, Mollie Hughes, June Lavin, Catherine Lawes, Heather McLoughlin, Sue Robinson, Andrea Scott, Genni Steele, Deirdre Tyrrell, Maureen Walker, Katy Watson, Caroline Wheeler, Hannah Wilson
Dave Carter, Peter Clapham, Nick Coult, John Cuckson, Anthony Dixon, Mike Dixon, Rob Gair, Jonathon Gilderoy, Bill Harland, Muir Hewitt, Darren James, David O’Donnell, Sebastien Tardif, Bev Thompson, Graeme Walton
Children
Sophie Begg, James Innes, Rebecca Innes, Ruth Innes, Stephanie Morton
Dancers
Victoria Cleghorn, Liza Finley, Ashley Latham, Louise Masters, Kate Richardson, Judith Sanderson
Backstage
- Stage Manager – Alan Hogarth
- Assistant Stage Manager – Martin Warden
- Stage Crew – Kevin Wicks, Alan Gill, Partick Gill, Dave Carter, Jamie Sterling, Joe Elleson, Rob Hutchinson, Martin Pratt, Steve Hewitt, Terry Watson
- Properties – Denise Brooksbank, Melanie Spedding, Miriam Maddocks, Claire Wright, Anne Robinson, Elizabeth Hayton, Mick Grief
- Wardrobe – Jean Graham, Jane Flowers, Judith Frisby
- Lighting – David Wright, Matthew Heinzmann, Andrew Davies
- Sound – Tony Atkinson, Associates Sound Hire
- Make-Up – Brenda Mullen, Mary Hamilton, Mary Hetherington, Eunice Sneddon
- Wigs – Keith Wigham, JAP
- Prompt – Jo Smart
- Scenery – Stagesets London
- Properties – Howarth Wrightson Manchester
- Costumes – W Homburg Leeds, Society Wardrobe
- Dressers – Carol Carter, Pam Drion, Katie Gair, Katy Duff, Sarah Jackson, Deborah Siddle
- Chaperones – Debbie Morton, Helen Innes, Lesley Begg
- Front of House – David Foxall, Joan Foxall, Frank Cure, Val Cure, Mary Robinson, Margaret Sutton, Enid Johnson, Frank Tuckerman, Dorthea Tuckerman, Lawrence Jones, Brenda Robson, Joyce Allinson, Harry Cottle
Programme
Reviews
Sarah Foster – Northern Echo – February 2002
BEARING the dual responsibility of being Gala’s first amateur show and its first musical. Me and My Girl had a lot to live up to. It set a pretty good precedent by selling tickets for every seat at all seven of its performances.
Having put on shows for the best part of a century, you would think Durham Amateur Operatic Society would have a fairly good idea of what it’s about by now. And you’d be right —this production exudes years of experience.
From the first scenes, which involve a deft scene change from Mayfair to the country manor, Hareford Hall, you are confident of a seamless performance.
Gone are the homemade sets and charity shop costumes which are often the lot of amateur productions. Serious money has been spent on this show, and the result is sets, scenery and authentic period costumes that any professional company would be proud of.
London-born Anthony Smith, as Cockney Bill Snibson, who finds out that he is the Earl of Hareford, puts in a great performance, stealing the show with his charm and excellent comic timing. Delia McNally, as his common girlfriend, Sally, plays the character with depth as well as humour.
It is just a shame the theatre is not bigger, as I am sure the society could have filled it twice.