Me and My Girl to do the lambeth walk again

Since 2003 it has been rumoured that a new major revival of Me and My Girl will light up the West End.

The show announced, way back in 2003, that it was indeed going to open once again in the West End at The New London Theatre early 2004. This was the cancelled and then shelved. Then last September the show launched a 16 week tour prior to the West End but towards the end of the year to production closed on the road despite good houses and reviews - the show claimed it was going to open directly in London as it was too big and costly to have on the road. That was the last we heard of the production - until now!

It now seems that Fiery Angel, producers of the revival and of the successful currently running in London production of The 39 Steps, are geared up once again and plan to open in London towards the end of the year, or at latest early 2008, theatre dependent.

Me and My Girl is a popular British stage musical, with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay.

It was originally performed at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London, in 1937, and starred Lupino Lane. At first attracting little notice, the production gained immediate success after a matinee performance was broadcast live on BBC radio, following the cancellation of a sporting event. Me and My Girl went on to run for a phenomenal 1,646 performances. The show's showstopper, "The Lambeth Walk", has the distinction of being the only popular song to be the subject of a headline in The Times. In October1938, one of its headlines read, "While dictators rage and statesmen talk, all Europe dances - to The Lambeth Walk."

On May 1, 1939, a performance was televised from the theatre, one of the first times such a thing was done. In 1940, a movie version was filmed entitled, The Lambeth Walk.

Me and My Girl was revived in 1952, and again in 1984, with a revised script by Stephen Fry and contributions by Mike Ockrent at the Leicester Haymarket theatre, from where it transferred to London's West End for a successful eight year run at the Adelphi Theatre, later going on tour throughout Britain, and transferring to New York's Broadway at the Marquis Theatre in 1986. The success of that revival made a star out of Robert Lindsay and gathered his both the Olivier and tony for his fantastic performance. Mike Ockrent directed the 1984 production.

The new production of Me and My Girl is directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. The 2006 tour cast included Richard Frame (Bill Snibson), Faye Tozer (Sally Smith). Sylvester McCoy, Trevor Bannister and Dillie Keane. Its uncertain if any of these performers are still going be involved with the hoped for West End show, which is rumoured for The New London or Savoy Theatres.

To post a comment, you must register and login.