By James Karas
After the
religious and political rigours (not to mention treachery, torture and burning
at the stake) of Saint Joan, you may want some lighter theatrical fare. The Shaw
Festival obliges with a production of Me and My Girl, the 1937
rags-to-riches musical.
In Canada
winning the lottery may be considered as rags-to-riches but in England a stash
of cash will not do it. You need to leap in a single bound to the top reaches
of the social ladder in order to be considered.
Which brings us
to the story of Bill Snibson ((Michael Therriault), the star of Me
and My Girl. He is a Cockney whose barbaric accent alone, places him in
the social dungeon but who finds out that his late father was an earl and he has
inherited his cash and the coronet.
Kristi Frank as Sally Smith and Michael Therriault as Bill Snibson with the cast of
Me and My Girl. Photo by David Cooper.
Bill knows
nothing about his paternity until he is presented to his father’s family and
friends at Hareford Hall, the family pad which defines wealth, elegance and
superb set design by Drew Facey.
A rough-hewn
Cockney among the pristine aristocrats provides easy and sometimes obvious
humour. When Bill is given all his titles by Parchester (Jay Turvey), the
loquacious family solicitor, he faints. When he is told to be careful with a
two hundred year old decanter, Bill replies “Thank God…it could have been a new
one.”
Before he can
take his inheritance, his father’s sister, the Duchess (Sharry Flett) and Sir
John (Ric Reid) as executors of the estate must decide if Bill is a fit and
proper person to become earl. That means the transformation of Eliza the
guttersnipe to Miss Eliza Doolittle of My
Fair Lady fame. There is in fact a reference to the play Pygmalion and to the musical.
But there is
more: Bill must marry a woman who is also fit and proper to be a Duchess.
Matters become complicated because the beautiful, ambitious and covetous Lady
Jacqueline (Élodie Gillett) her sights set on Bill. But Bill is in love with
Sally Smith (Kristi Frank), a sensible Cockney girl who intends to renovate
Hareford Hall by throwing out all the rubbish and bring some new furniture and
flowered wallpaper.
Let there be no
mistake about Bill and Sally’s relationship. They sing to us that they are
meant for each other and intend to be happy ever after. This is crucial. As one
can see, the stakes are high, the suspense intense and the situation tough to unravel.
The above gives
a good indication of the flavour of the musical. The plot is fairly vacuous but
it is perhaps vintage pre-Rodgers and Hammerstein material. Stephen Fry revised
the original book by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber by adding some good lines.
“She is like Mussolini without charm” is a good example.
The cast of Me and My Girl. Photo by David Cooper.
The signature
song of Me and My Girl is “The Lambeth Walk,” a brisk melody that is
perfect example of reverse snobbery. Lambeth is no Mayfair but people are happy
there, everything is free and easy and everything is bright and breezy. This is
part of the depression mythology that few of us can recall. The number is done
with energy and fun.
The comedy works
most of the time even though and the acting and singing are energetic and
enjoyable even though Therriault forgets to drop his h’s sometimes. The
full-sized Neil Barclay makes a very funny butler. The ensemble singing and
dancing is energetic and enjoyable. Credit to Choreographer Parker Esse and
Music Director Paul Sportelli.
The whole show
is brought together by director Ashley Corcoran with commendable results.
Costume Designer
Sue LePage knows how to dress the aristocratic ladies and gentlemen. Elegance,
style, haute couture, a delight to
the eye.
A pleasure.
__________
Me and My Girl by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber (book and lyrics), revised by
Stephen Fry, with contributions by Mike Ockrent, Noel Gay (music) continues in
repertory until October 15, 2017 at the
Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. www.shawfest.com
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