Review: Me and My Girl--PNBHS/PNGHS Production 2020

Review - Me and My Girl
PNBHS/PNGHS Production
Director: Chris Burton
Co Director: Kirsten Clark

Review Date: 12/03/20

At the end of a busy Thursday, do you really want to go to see a theatre production?  I didn’t. I hoped it would finish early so that I could eat snifter lumps and fall asleep in front of the TV.  I was feeling like a misery guts.

What is Me and My Girl even about?  I’d never heard of it before, but Google said that Stephen Fry had been involved in its creation, so I felt it had to be some fun.  Some fun indeed!
 
Me and My Girl is a play set in England during the 1930’s that sets the similarities and differences between classes at centre-stage and makes a comedy-drama out of the ensuing madness. It’s a dancing, singing, laughing extravaganza that will entertain the socks off you.  

The band lead by Danielle Joe started the show off well. Before the curtains had opened I found myself affected by some addictive and joyful toe-tapping music. The combination of a lively band and some fun dance acts made it  hard not to get swept away with it all. There was a simply smashing scene that involved the playing of spoons which had the audience bouncing in their seats and whooping for joy. I say!

It wasn’t just the enjoyable story-line and quality laughs that made Me and My Girl such a riveting piece of theatre, a huge part of the fun came in the form of Zac Maskill playing a lovable character from the wrong side of town—Bill Snibson.  Zac seemed the perfect choice to play the main character with his excellent vocals, authentic sounding accent, and impeccable acting. His performance came across as genuine, he had amazing stage presence and delivered a good measure of laughs (or should I say larfs).  

Similarly, co-star  Leonora Potten as Sally Smith showed off a strong, sassy, act with a lovely vocal performance.  Sally was a delightful presence who stole the hearts of those on and off-stage. Together, Bill and Sally (Leonora and Zac) had a beautiful onstage chemistry, a true romance.

Gabby Clark as Maria, The Duchess of Dene, delivered a strong performance and a very impressive solo piece in ‘Song of Hareford’. Ayesha Satya as Lady Jacqueline Carstone also showcased some strong vocal performances. Karmeehan Senthill-Nathan as Herbert Parchester played a darling role as the family solicitor and Blake Storrier delivered a very enjoyable comedy act as stuffy, snivelling, snob Gerald Bolingbroke. 

The production team had prepared the cast well, they all delivered strong, polished performances. Transitions between scenes were managed smoothly, and the show moved along like a well-oiled machine.  Costuming and make-up had the cast looking absolutely dapper.

Me and My Girl is an excellent comedy that is very giving to the audience.  It’s a laugh a minute, and for those of you who feel tested by overly long, drawn-out musical numbers, let me reassure you that you will not be rolling your eyes here.  Instead you will lose track of time as you lean into the liveliness of it all. It’s an excellent antidote for misery, I smiled a lot and I wasn’t the only one. I suspect the whole audience were beaming smiles back at the stage for the duration of the show.  We certainly made a lot of appreciative noises too.  In fact, the audience gave a stellar performance too, we rocked!

I’ve reviewed a few PNGHS/PNBHS shows and this one is my favourite. It is lively, has an enjoyable story, and is a laugh a minute. 

Just in case you’re interested, I did go home and nail a packet of snifter lumps, what a night!