Dural is Doing The Lambeth Walk
For its first show of 2012, Dural Musical Society (NSW) is presenting classic British musical comedy Me and My Girl from May 11.With music by Noel Gay and book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber, the 1937 West End Hit’s show stopper, ‘The Lambeth Walk’ was the subject of a news story in The Times of October 1938 as war approached: “While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances — to The Lambeth Walk.”
Dural is presenting the 1984 version of the musical comedy, with a revised book Stephen Fry and director Mike Ockrent, which saw Me and My Girlbecome an award winning hit all over again, in the West End, on Broadway and around the world.
Me and My Girl is a musical comedy set in England in the 1930’s. An aristocratic family discover that a Cockney lad from Lambeth is the long lost heir to the title of Earl of Hareford. The Dutchess of Dene decides to work on converting Bill Snibson from his “common” ways to that of a gentleman so that the can meet the terms of the Will and inherit the title, however, she decides that his Cockney girlfriend Sally Smith is definitely not a suitable consort for the new earl and advises her to go back to Lambeth. With echoes of Downton Abbey, the story, set in Hareford Hall, revolves around the differences between the upper and lower classes, and what it takes to become “accepted” by the aristocracy, complete with toe-tappers including ‘The Lambeth Walk’, ‘Me and My Girl’, ‘Once You Lose Your Heart’, and ‘Leaning on a Lamppost’.
Direction is by Ben Wilson-Hill, a well known member of DMS, whose recent credits include the roles of Daddy Warbucks in Annie and Detective Frank Coiffi in Curtains. Dural had a sudden change of Director just prior to rehearsals commencing, when Ben took up the reins. Experienced Adelaide actress and director Loriel Smart (Quin) has asisted the cast in terms of characterization. On stepping in late as director, Ben told Stage Whispers,
“Stepping in to direct a show has been a challenge for me, but one I've enjoyed. Not being amongst the pre-production meetings, I had much more to take on all at once, but in ways that made it easier too as I'd been handed the raw materials - a kit show! I had the cast and crew all ready to go, it was just a matter of glueing the pieces together.”
Ben also does a "Hitchcock" and appears briefly in one of the scenes (as one of the ancestors). Is this a Wilson-Hill trademark too? we asked.
“Most definitely trademark! I love the stage. Being on-stage is the biggest thrill in my life, and I couldn't just watch while my cast had all the fun!! The cameo part is just enough to fill the void of not doing a character role.”
Musical Direction is by Jessica Wood with Kelvin Hui (Assistant MD). Mandy Winter is Choreographer.
New to the society, Silvan Rus travels from the city to rehearse the role of Bill Snibson, the heir to the title of Earl of Hareford (Dural is 36 kms from the Sydney CBD). Curtains cast members Stephanie Quaglia, Madelaine Dart and Deb Warren return to play Sally Smith, Lady Jacqueline Carstone, and the Duchess of Dene, setting up a three way battle for Bill’s affections between his girlfriend, a money hungry aristocrat, and his very powerful and influential aunt. Nicholas Gilbert plays the Hon. Gerald Bolingbroke who has been tossed aside by Lady Jacqueline when she realises that it is Bill and not Gerald who will inherit the family fortune. John Nawotka, Hector McLeod, Timothy Chivers, Paula Novella, Julie Pogue, Cheralee Heynes and Susan Catt round out the other aristocrats, with Dominic Woodward covering their legal affairs as Parchester, the family solicitor. The servants are under the control of Charles the Butler (Gus Gamas). DMS stalwarts take various cameo roles - Judy Clarke as Mrs Brown, and Andrew McLean and Julian Floriano as “ancestors”.
Performance Details
Dural Soldiers Memorial Hall, 604 Old Northern Rd, Dural (opposite Redfield College)
Evening Performance Dates: 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 May at 8.00 p.m.
Matinee Performance Dates: 13, 20 May at 2.00 p.m.
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