STAGE REVIEW : Undemanding ‘My Girl’ Is a Joy

What can you do with a musical with lyrics like “The sun has got his hat on/Hip hip hip hooray”? What can you do, indeed, except sit back and enjoy it?

“Me and My Girl,” now in a radiant production by Starlight Musical Theatre at the San Diego Civic Theatre, proves that shows don’t have to be profound to be profoundly entertaining. It is a lighthearted, gay, swiftly moving romp through a fantasy world in which the boy gets the girl and everyone ends up rich and happy. A Cockney lad from Lambeth finds he is the long-lost heir to the Hareford Hall fortune. Will part of Bill Snibson’s education in becoming a gentleman require losing his Cockney girl? Will his girl run off so that he can become all that he can be? And, if she does run off, will he find her again?

Anybody seriously worried about the outcome of these questions has completely missed the point of “Me and My Girl,” a re-creation of London hit of late 1930s with a new script and additional songs by the original composer, Noel Gay. The real question in the show--which won three Tonys in 1987 for best actor, actress and choreographer--is just how much dancing, singing, clowning and acting virtuosity one can squeeze into this fragile little confection.

And the answer is: more than you might think. The irresistibly hummable score by Gay cries out for big-voiced singers and agile tap dancers. And the amusing book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber demand actors with precision comic timing.

Happily, Starlight delivers the goods here with one of the best casts it has assembled all season. An ensemble of scene stealers--the bloody lot of ‘em.

Jamie Torcellini is terrific as Bill Snibson, the watch-stealing heir with a heart of gold. He has the fluid moves and easy grin of a born hoofer. Beverly Ward touches the heart as Bill’s pearl of a girl, Sally, with her poignant, big-voiced renditions of such tear-jerkers as “Once You Lose Your Heart.” And Christina Saffran, who last wowed audiences with her innocence as Mary Magdalene in Starlight’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” plays the bad girl, Lady Jacqueline, with wickedly wonderful aplomb.

Michael Vita does a star turn in his more modest role of the high-stepping family solicitor, Herbert Parchester. Helen Geller projects an earnest haughtiness as the stubborn Duchess determined to turn Bill into a gentleman. Jae Ross captures the amusing prissiness of upper crust Gerald Bolingbroke, and Robert Machray provides a convincing moral center as Sir John Tremayne, the doubting Thomas who ultimately helps turn all things right.

The ensemble cast, too, packs a wallop into every chorus number, from the high- to low-society scenes, and from its portraits of the masters to the servants.

The musical direction by Lloyd Cooper explodes like fireworks. The choreography by Bonnie and Don Ward snaps as exuberantly as their direction with just a little unfortunate lag in the library scene. The physical shtick in the library is funny, but, when a slight show such as this one starts pushing 2 1/2 hours, you should be looking for cuts, not clever extensions.

The pastel costumes by Ann Curtis lend a welcome subtlety to the look of the show. The sets by Martin Johns capture the needed sense of contrast between locations; some of the elegant venues, however, come off a bit flat while others, like the smoky Lambeth street scene, are fine. The lighting by Gregory Allen Hirsch and sound by Bill Lewis work nicely.

And so does the show as a whole. But be forewarned. Those heading for “Me and My Girl” must check their cynicism at the door. And, as for those leaving, don’t expect to have a heavy philosophical conversation anytime in the near future. What you should expect is to leave humming the score with a very silly, but happy grin on your face.

“ME AND MY GIRL”

Book and lyrics by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber. Music by Noel Gay. Book revised by Stephen Fry. Contributions to revisions by Mike Ockrent. Directed and choreographed by Bonnie and Don Ward. Music director-conductor is Lloyd Cooper. Sets by Martin Johns. Costumes by Ann Curtis. Lighting by Gregory Allen Hirsch. Sound by Bill Lewis. Technical direction by Larry Kane. Stage manager is Maura J. Murphy. With Jamie Torcellini, Beverly Ward, Christina Saffran, Helen Geller, Jae Ross, Michael Vita, Robert Machray and Phillip Green. At 8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Sunday with Saturday/Sunday matinees at 2 through Oct. 28. Tickets are $15-$26. At 202 C St., San Diego, 544-STAR.