The Cockney musical that became a smash hit on Broadway, as well as London's West End, has been chosen as this year's major stage production by the Gilbert & Sullivan Society.

`Me and My Girl', which should delight audiences with the famous `Lambeth Walk', as well as other nostalgic hit tunes such as `Leaning on a Lamp Post', and `The Sun Has Got His Hat On', will be staged at City Hall from October 4 to October 14.

The show will be directed by Annette Hallett with James Burn (composer of `Joan of Arc' which was premiered at Daylesford last year) as musical director, with Barbara Frith responsible for getting those Cockney toes a-tapping.

This production sees a reunion between three of Bermuda's leading performers who are taking the top roles.

Richard Fell and Beverly Crick revealed a dazzling stage partnership in their portrayal of Anna and the King in `The King and I' two years ago -- this, in spite of the fact that Ms Crick had stepped into the role at the last moment when a leg injury forced the first `Anna', Karen Musson, to withdraw from the role.

"I only had ten days' rehearsal with Bev, and I never got the chance to actually perform at all with Karen, but now I have the luxury of being with both of them, as they have the two leading roles in `Me and My Girl','' says Mr. Fell.

Beverly Crick plays his `girl', Sally, while Karen Musson (who took the title role in last year's `Evita)', has the second female lead as Lady Jaqui.

Richard Fell takes on the central role of Bill Snibson, the Cockney barrow-boy from Lambeth who, to his astonishment, is named as the 14th Earl of Hareford and heir to a great fortune.

Also appearing in the production will be Keith Madeiros (who last scored a personal hit as the tango singer in `Evita') and the Hon. Gerald Bolinbroke, Kathryn Winter as the Duches, Steve Parkinson as Sir John Tremayne, veteran actor Alec Foster in the role of Sir Jasper Tring and Gordon Campbell as Herbert Parchester.

"I think people will love this show. It's an old-fashioned, `happy ending' musical comedy, the kind that used to be written before the days of Andrew Lloyd Webber! It's the sort of show that will appeal to all age groups,'' says Mr. Fell. "It has some great song and tap dance numbers and that wonderful first-act finale, where we're all `Doing The Lambeth Walk'.'' Although rehearsals have not yet begun, Richard Fell is already busily trying to master what he describes as a dying Cockney art -- that of spoon playing.

`Me and My Girl' composed by Noel Gay, was first performed in London in 1937.

The show-stopping `Lambeth Walk' started a dance craze that spread right across the Atlantic. Gay's son, Richard Armitage was responsible for the show's revival in 1985 -- this time with a revised script by Stephen Fry. With Emma Thompson and Robert Lindsay in the leading roles, the show was a huge hit and, one year later, opened on Broadway for a long run.

The Gilbert & Sullivan production of `Me and My Girl' takes place at City Hall from October 4 through 14.

RICHARD FELL -- He takes on the central role of Bill Snibson, the Cockney barrow-boy from Lambeth who, to his astonishment, is named as the 14th Earl of Hareford and heir to a great fortune.