ME AND MY GIRL

Lyrics: Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber
Music: Noel Gay : Book: Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber

First Performance

London, Victoria Palace Theatre, 16 December 1937 (1646 performances)
New York, Marquis Theater, 10 August 1986 (1420 performances)
London Revival, Adelphi Theatre 12 February, 1985 (3,303 performances)

Synopsis

Who turns out to be the long-lost heir to the Baronetcy of Hareford, its 17th Baron and 8th Viscount? Lambeth's own Cockney sparrow, Bill Snibson, that's who. He has his own girlfriend, Sally, but that won't stop gold-digger Lady Jacqueline. She ditches her dumbfounded boyfriend, Gerald, when Mr Parchester, the family solicitor, presents Bill to the flabbergasted family as the new son and heir. But Bill has still to win the family's approval to inherit the title - and the money. If he doesn't, he'll be given an annuity and sent away. The formidable Duchess is determined Bill should stay, insisting that all will be well and, with a little grooming, Bill will be suitable to inherit. There will be an official reception to introduce him to the county set. But Sally is not to be invited. Bill faces up to the Duchess - no Sally, no Bill. But Sally doesn't want to come anyway - not to a posh party. The party goes ahead and Sally turns up in full Cockney get-up complete with a posse of pearly kings and queens who perform the 'Lambeth Walk' to prove Bill doesn't belong. But they are all invited to the reception and go into dinner.

Next day there's croquet on the lawn. In an effort to make him stay and take up his inheritance, the Duchess has persuaded Sally to tell Bill she no longer loves him. Sally does this, and slips out to an unknown destination. Bill, helped by Sir John and Parchester, is determined to find Sally (whom he still loves). He is urged on by a Ruddigore-like gallery of ghostly portraits of his ancestors.

Back at her landlady's Sally decides to move on. She's got a telegram from Bill and must escape. However, Sir John arrives and has a cunning plan for her. When Bill arrives, her landlady says she's not there, but Bill waits. He expends all his energy on locating Sally and bringing her back. Sir John makes the Duchess soften her attitude towards Bill's beloved. Bill finally rejects Lady Jacqueline and she returns to Gerald. Bill is making to leave when Sir John enters with a new Eliza Doolittle - it's a posh Sally! The Duchess is delighted and Bill has his girl!

Musical Numbers:

Revised version

• A Weekend in Hareford (Company)
• You Would If You Could (Jacqueline & Bill)
• The Lambeth Walk (Sally, Bill and company)
• Me and My Girl (Bill and Sally)
• Once You Lose Your Heart (Sally)
• Leaning On a Lamppost (Bill)
• Love Makes The World Go Round (Sir John and Bill)
• The Sun Has Got His Hat On (Company)
• Take It On the Chin (Sally and Company)

Musical Numbers:

Original programme:

Overture

ACT I

1. OPENING CHORUS - Gerald and Chorus - "A weekend at Hareford is simply divine"
   
2. DUET: Thinking of No-One but Me - Gerald, Jacqueline and Chorus - "I once had a notion"
   2a - Reprise of No. 2 - Dance
   
3. DUET - Me and My Girl - Bill, Sally and Dancers - "Life's an empty thing"
   3a Reprise of No. 3 - Exit Music
   
4. SONG - The Family Solicitor - Parchester and Family - "As the family solicitor here's my advice to you
   
5. Interlude. An English Gentleman - Charles and Menservants - "William of Hareford is diametrically"
   
6. CHORUS with SOLOS - Keep Away From the Town If You Can - Chorus (with four solo men and one solo lady) - "The lovely countryside is the only place to be"
   6a Reprise of No. 6 - Exit Music
   
7. SONG - A Bright Little Girl Like Me - Jacqueline with Bill and Chorus - "Some have greatness thrust upon 'em"
   
8. DUET - If Only You Had Cared for Me - Duchess and Sir John - "We were so much together"
   
9. SONG - Once You lose Your Heart - Sally and Lady Guests - "Once you lose your heart"
   
10. DUET - Me and My Girl - Bill and Sally - "Meant for each other"
    
11. ENSEMBLE - This is the Night of the Year - Ensemble - "This is the night of the year"
    
12. Finale Act I - The Lambeth Walk - Ensemble - "Lambeth you've never seen"

ACT II

13. CHORUS - The Lambeth Walk - Chorus
    
14. The Girl I left Behind me - Orchestra
    
15. SONG - Don't Be Silly, Sally - Sally and Lady Guests - "I was always told to keep smiling"
    
16. SONG - Song of Hareford - Duchess and Chorus - "The story of Hareford handed down"
    16a - Reprise of No. 16 - Guests
    
17. SONG - Once You lose Your Heart - Sally - "Once youlose your heart"
    
18. CHORUS - Me and My Girl - Waltz - Chorus - "Me and my girl meant for each other"
    
19. Finale Act II - Me and My Girl - Ensemble

Scenes and Settings:

Original production.

ACT I

SCENE 1 - Hareford Hall. Morning
SCENE 2 - Interlude in front of tabs
SCENE 3 - Hareford Hall. A week or two later
SCENE 4 - An ante-room in Hareford Hall. A few weeks later
SCENE 5 - Hareford Hall. Evening.

ACT II

SCENE 1 - Hareford Hall. A few days later
SCENE 2 - Paradise Row, Lambeth. Evening
SCENE 3 - Hareford Hall. Several months later

Characters

Gerald Bolingbroke, a good-looking young man
Lady Battersby
Lady Brighton
Lord Battersby
Jacqueline Carston, a dazzling young blonde
Charles, manservant
Mr Parchester, family solicitor
The Hon. Margaret Aikington
Lord Jasper Tring, a nonagenarian
Charles Boulting-Smythe
Maria, Duchess of Dene, a middle-aged martinet
Sir John Tremayne, a middle-aged baronet
Bill Snibson, Cockney Lord Hareford
Sally Smith, Bill's girl
Alf, Fred, Bert and Joe, servants
Telegraph boy
Mrs Brown, landlady
Bob Barking, Sally's friend
Police constable
Guests
Cockneys