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MTW's "Me And My Girl" Has Love,
Slapstick, Song And Dance Grunion Gazette By
Priscilla Munson
Mix equal parts wholesome love story, vaudevillian slapstick, irresistibly
perky song and dance, and what do you have? Why musical comedy of a certain
vintage, of course.
With roaring laughter, generous applause and a standing ovation at the sold-out opening of "Me and My Girl," it is clear Musical Theatre West has another winner on the Carpenter Performing Arts Center stage.
This 1937 British musical comedy (revived in the early '80s) is a cheerfully boisterous show set in the English countryside and in Lambeth, the working class section of London circa 1930.
The requisite plot line occurs when the preservation of a long line of aristocrats is at stake. Seems a certain unrefined cockney fellow named Bill Snibson (in an enthusiastic turn by boyishly clunky Wayne Bryan) has been identified as the love-child heir to his father's title and fortune.
His ascension to Duke of Hareford is not guaranteed, however. First he must become a proper gentleman according to the standards of his newfound relatives. Since Bill has a mind of his own, it will not be easy for his Aunt Maria, the Duchess of Dene (played by jolly thespian Brenda Cox), to pull this off. But try she will!
Hold on. There's more required of Bill than just modified manners. To seal the deal, he must jettison his equally unrefined, spunky girlfriend Sally (adorably personified by Bets Malone) and marry within his new class.
Not likely. You see, Bill and Sally are inseparable. This is "Me and My Girl," remember?
Comical gyrations abound as the attempted transformation ensues, and it is sweet diversion from beginning to end.
Did you know the original score of "Me and My Girl" spawned "The Lambeth Walk?" Or that after its 1938 live BBC broadcast it sparked the biggest international dance craze of the era? Or that by 1987, this sprightly tune was being performed somewhere in the world every 32 minutes?
Rollicking along with "The Lambeth Walk" were other peppy numbers including "You Would If You Could" (wait until you see what long-legged Tracy Lore has up her flowing sleeve), "Love Makes The World Go Round" and "The Family Solicitor" (showcasing the nimbly animated Lenny Wolpe). And then there was Bets Malone's tenderly expressive solo, "Once You Lose Your Heart," that evoked a collective sigh from the audience.
What stands out in this MTW extravaganza is the combination of vivid period costumes, lush three-dimensional staging, and a huge array of engaging actors, dancers and pit orchestra. Director/choreographer Roger Castellano, Costume Designer B. Modern for AMT of San Jose, Costumer Thomas G. Marquez, Technical Director Kevin Clowes and Lighting Designer Michael Gilliam had a field day employing all that glitter, glam and Disney-esque pizzazz.
Not in such fine form, however, was the engineering of the actors' individual mikes. The first few words spoken or notes sung were consistently inaudible during the entire performance. Let's hope this unnecessary sloppiness is swiftly corrected as it created an annoying lack of clarity. That said, "Me and My Girl" is a perfect anecdote right now - just as it was in 1937.
Evening and matinee performances continue Thursdays through Sundays through Feb. 23 at the Carpenter Center.
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