Me and My Girl
Recently Updated
Introduction to "Me and My Girl"
"Me and My Girl" premiered in London’s West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre on December 16, 1937, running for an impressive 1,646 performances until 1940. With music by Noel Gay and a book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose, this musical comedy became a Depression-era hit. Directed and produced by Lupino Lane, who starred as Bill Snibson, it was broadcast live on BBC radio and TV among the first musicals to do so boosting its fame. Revived in 1985 at the Adelphi Theatre with a Stephen Fry-revised book, it ran 3,303 performances until January 16, 1993, winning the 1985 Olivier for Musical of the Year. Starring Robert Lindsay and Emma Thompson, its tale of a Cockney inheriting an earldom, paired with hits like "The Lambeth Walk," made it a beloved classic across two iconic runs.
The Creative Team Behind the Show
Noel Gay composed the infectious score, with Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose crafting the original book and lyrics, rooted in 1930s British humor. Lupino Lane, a comedy veteran, directed and starred as Bill in 1937, with Fred Leslie’s choreography sparking the "Lambeth Walk" craze. The 1985 revival saw Stephen Fry and director Mike Ockrent refresh the script, adding "Leaning on a Lamppost," while Robert Lindsay’s Bill and Emma Thompson’s Sally Smith shone. Producers André Charlot (1937) and Richard Armitage (1985), with Gillian Gregory’s Olivier-winning 1987 choreography, bridged eras. Susannah Fellows and Frank Thornton enriched the revival, blending old-school charm with modern wit, cementing the show’s dual legacy under visionary teams.
A Cockney’s Rags-to-Riches Romp
In late 1930s Hampshire, Bill Snibson, a brash Lambeth costermonger, learns he’s the 14th Earl of Hareford after the 13th Earl’s secret marriage to a Cockney lass. His aristocratic kin, led by the stern Duchess Maria, aim to polish his rough edges, clashing with his devotion to girlfriend Sally Smith. Bill resists losing Sally, who feels out of place among the elite ("Once You Lose Your Heart"). At a grand party, Sally crashes with Lambeth pals, prompting a showdown. Songs like "The Lambeth Walk" and "Me and My Girl" fuel the chaos, ending with Sally’s transformation à la "My Fair Lady" and Bill’s triumph, inheriting title and love, a jubilant clash of class and heart.
Performance and Reception
The 1937 debut struggled until a BBC radio airing catapulted it to 1,646 performances, with The Times noting Europe danced to "The Lambeth Walk" seen thrice by King George VI. Critics adored Lane’s Bill, though some found it dated. The 1985 Adelphi revival, previewing February 2 and opening February 12, ran 3,303 shows, hailed by The New York Post as “a honey” with “wit and charm.” Lindsay’s Olivier-winning Bill and Thompson’s Sally dazzled, though The Guardian called it “sentimental codswallop” pre-revision. A 1939 TV broadcast and 1985 cast album amplified its reach, with over 2 million seeing it across runs, its buoyant spirit trouncing early skepticism in both eras.
Legacy in West End Theatre
"Me and My Girl" spans 4,949 West End performances across its 1937 and 1985 runs, its three 1987 Tony wins including Best Actor for Lindsay and two 1985 Oliviers marking its peak. A 1939 film, "The Lambeth Walk," and Broadway’s 1,420-show run (1986-1989) spread its fame, with "The Lambeth Walk" a global dance craze banned by Hitler, mocked by Mussolini. Revivals like Chichester 2018 with Matt Lucas and amateur stagings via Concord Theatricals keep it alive, though it’s no "Mamma Mia!" in longevity. Its cast recordings endure, and Fry’s rewrite modernized a 1930s gem, securing its legacy as a Cockney-hearted classic in Theatreland’s joyful canon.