REVIEW: Me and My Girl. Cromer and Sheringham Operatic and Dramatic Society; Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre

The red, white and blue Diamond Jubilee bunting was all of a flutter along Cromer Pier as the audience made their way to and from a very British piece of musical theatre last night.

The story, a sort of Upstairs Downstairs meets My Fair Lady mash-up, was full of well-loved national cliches - toffee-nosed aristocrats v a loveable Cockney geezer and his gal.

But this was no penetrating insight in to the British class system; just a bit of knockabout singing and dancing around a daft Lambeth-lad-finds-himself-heir-to-earldom storyline.

It included that excellent belter the Lambeth Walk, performed with infectious fun and energy.

The cast gave its all on opening night, milking the constant silliness, and getting the laughs they deserved.

East McBride and Selina White, as Cockney sweethearts Bill Snibson and Sally Smith, gave well-matched, endearing performances and sounded convincing both in dialect and song.

Nona Gray, as the duchess, and Andrew Grey as upper-class twerp Gerald Bolingbroke were particularly well played among a universally-strong cast of principals. Thank you Andrew for bringing back to life the late, great Charles Hawtrey.

And a special mention for Peter Howell who brought out the skipping, mincing inner child in dry-as-dust family solicitor Herbert Parchester.

If the imminent Jubilee celebrations are the icing on the patriotic party cake, then a trip to this show is the jelly and ice cream you really should find room for first.

It continues until Saturday, June 2.

Alex Hurrell