Me & My Girl (Chichester)

Lucas would have made a better Gerald, or even Sir John or Parchester.

Daniel Evans has made such smart casting choices in the past that part of me wants to say - let's wait and see. However, the other part is disappointed with this announcement.

I'm very glad that it isn't a very youthful 'smiley' song and dance man. However, having seen the original London production many times with every cast variation, the versions which which worked best were when actor playing Bill had an effortless charm, the comedy was unforced and there was a natural rapport between Bill and Sally. My favourite pairings were Robert Lindsay and Emma Thompson, and Karl Howman and Louise English. I didn't managed to see Gary Wilmot and Jessica Martin together - one of them was always off whenever I visited - but I heard good things about them.

I don't find Matt Lucas particularly charming and he seems a bit self-indulgent as a performer - his comedy has often felt rather leaden and laboured. But people change, and he loves musicals - in past interviews has said that one of his favourite is Me and My Girl - and Evans is a good director. I'm hoping that my concerns are completely misplaced.

I'm still looking forward to seeing this - and interested to hear who else is in the cast (and fingers crossed that Sally is in the Joanna Riding rather than Su Pollard vein - the latter being a performance I have tried my hardest to forget).

Wow this is really bad casting. Pretty stunned.

What worries me about this casting is that if they get it wrong, then we may not see Me and My Girl again for a very long time. It's taken 25 years to get a major production (excluding Sheffield) that might come to London and run again, i just dont want them to screw it up. Unless there is a new UK tour and then hopefully they might cast in a more traditional way.

I can only really see Matt Lucas playing the fool, or bumbling sidekick. Neither of which are Bill Snibson. Who knows, he might prove us all wrong...

Is it too early to ask if the understudy is scheduled to do any performances?

I don’t understand the concerns over this casting. I don’t know the show, but from a quick look at Wikipedia, I can see that it was written back in the 30s for a cockney comic-cum-music-hall performer who’d already played the character of Bill Snibson in another play. Lucas is a larger than life comic who can act and put across a tune as well as anyone else who’s played the role, isn’t he? I trust Daniel Evans, and Chichester certainly knows how to put on a show (and how to sell it. Take note ENO...) We might know Lucas better as George and Marjorie Dawes, but we also thought we knew Michael Crawford better as Frank Spencer. And he turned out to the Phantom every Phantom since has based his performance on for over thirty years...

OMGosh. I would LOVE to see La Paige as Velma Kelly! She'd be sensational.

I rather like Matt Lucas. He has a certain sweetness about him that I think would be good for this. J'approve!

Booked and looking forward to it. A day out near Chichester with a summer evening at its theatre never disappoints!

Also booked... While I'm not keen on Matt Lucas, I've been waiting for Me & My Girl for so long, I won't let that put me off (or rather... give him a chance to convince me he was a good choice). Also finally gives me the opportunity ot visit Chichester and see a new bit of England.

Literally. I’d kill someone for this cast.

And I think good looks and any sort of body hair are overrated in a leading man anyway, so there.

Distant memories of Andrew O'Connor (whatever happened to him?!) in the 1994 tour, alongside Rebecca Thornhill who I've seen in many shows since. Can't remember how much comic 'business' he did though.