Anyone who managed to see the Willenhall Operatic Society's production of Me And My Girl will have been treated to a gem of a show. Under the musical direction of Tim Harding, the show zips along at a cracking pace. Me And My Girl is the story of Bill Snibson (Simon Pugh) who goes from a Lambeth barrow boy to being the long-lost heir to the Earl of Hareford and Sally Smith (Lydia Simpkiss) goes from an East End girl to a glamorous society lady. Both leading characters give excellent performances in their respective roles. All the principal players deserve a mention – Dorothy Copson as the Duchess of Dene, Colin Hunt as Sir John Tremayne, Dave Storey as the very upper-class Hon Gerald Bolingbroke and a sassy performance by Colette Edwards as the Lady Jacqueline Carstone who tries very hard to seduce the new Earl but to no avail as he only has eyes for his girlfriend Sally. The comic Solicitor Mr Parchester was admirably played by Mac Hammond and Greg Yates was the funniest (and toothiest) Butler you have ever seen. Other principals were John Arnold, John Wiley, Angie Astell, Val Simpkiss, John Wetherall, Charlotte Harding, Marina Bray and Eileen Southall as the wonderfully named Mrs Worthington-Worthington. The chorus and dancers each played their parts to the full to make this a very enjoyable show. The songs everyone could sing along to included Leaning On A Lampost, The Sun Has Got His Hat On, The Lambeth Walk and of course the title song Me And My Girl. The most hilarious scene takes place in the Library at Hareford Hall, where the new Earl is preparing his speech for the House of Lords. After getting slightly 'tipsy' with Sir John, the Earl goes through a very clever routine firstly with his scarlet ermine (or was it vermin?) trimmed robe then he changes it for a tigerskin rug in which he danced with the ghosts of his ancestors in such a way that the whole audience reeling with laughter, I must say that Simon Pugh played as a good a Bill Snibson as any I have seen on the professional stage. As with all good musicals, it all ends happily with Bill and Sally becoming members of the aristocracy but not forgetting all their East End friends who all mix together in the very colourful Lambeth Walk.
Noel Gay's Me and My Girl was directed by Tim Jones and played at The Mill Theatre – Dormston School, Sedgley from 26 to 30 April 2005. Written by Una Britton | 
