Matt Lucas in Me and My Girl at the Chichester Festival Theatre, London. Picture: Johan Persson
Me and My Girl continues at the Chichester Festival Theatre until 25 August 2018.
Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
When I reviewed this show on press night, the leading role of Bill Snibson was taken on by understudy Ryan Pidgin due to the indisposition of Matt Lucas. The actor, having seen a throat specialist, had been advised to rest his voice.
There had been speculation over the choice of Lucas, so critics were keen to report on whether he was an inspired choice or a star name mistake. His indisposition meant this was not possible. However, a return visit has given me the opportunity to answer the question.
And the answer is that he is indeed an inspired choice.
Right from his first entrance it is apparent that the role fits him as snugly as the brown-checked suit he wears. His face is a glorious mixture of hang dog dolefulness and cheeky grin.
Of his acting skills there could never have been any doubt – if one recalls his Kenneth Halliwell, Joe Orton’s lover, in the stage version of Prick Up Your Ears. Likewise, his talent for comedy could be taken for granted – he even manages to slip in a couple of ad-libs that cause the audience to cheer, as they do for the fun he has showing off his comic dexterity with an ermine cloak. But it is the strength of his singing and dancing skills that surprise.
He is extremely nimble on his feet and is touching in his ballads, ‘Hold My Hand’ and ‘Love Makes the World Go Round’ which he shares with the ever delightful Clive Rowe who gets to deliver some witty one-liners.
He does equally well with the title song and ‘Leaning On a Lamp-post’, a song not in the original 1930s show but introduced in the 1985 revival. Noel Gay, the show’s composer, also wrote songs for George Formby.
And, of course, he has a whale of a time with the revitalised ‘The Lambeth Walk’ which makes an exhilarating first-half curtain number.
A second viewing and review gives an opportunity to remedy some omissions and to appreciate again certain aspects.
Watching Siubhan Harrison as Lady Jacqueline, the scheming seductress, brought the realisation that she had not given full credit for her performance. In ‘Thinking of No-One But Me’ she revels in a great song and dance number and is wickedly funny in the seductive bathroom number ‘You Would If You Could’.
Alex Young, when she is not breaking hearts with her poignant number ‘Once You Lose Your Heart’, has a ball leading the knees-ups especially in the pub number ‘Take It On the Chin’.
Amidst the stellar performances there is a little gem of a cameo role from Jak Skelly, as Charles the butler. While he may be short in words, his dumb play is full of eloquence.
The only question that remains unanswered is… will the show transfer to the West End?
Barrie Jerram
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