As a treat for myself, Annie and I decided to go and see a musical at the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park in London. More famed as a theatre for Shakespeare (it is current also running Taming Of The Shrew and A Midsummer’s Night Dream), I was surprised to hear that there would be a musical performance when I first heard about it on the radio. The fact that the musical was set in the 1920s only added to my intrigue as a fan of swing music.
The Boy Friend tells of a group of girls who attend a finishing school in the French Rivieira. Upcoming is the Carnival Ball, a fancy dress party for the girls, who set about preparing for it, including finding dates and boyfriends to bring along. One girl, though, Polly doesn’t have a date, as she tries to find a boyfriend who doesn’t want her for her money. She then meets a messenger-boy, Tony, who delivers her dress for the ball, at which point she decides to see what might happen if she allowed him to take her to the ball.
The Boy Friend is a fantastic musical story, which lots of comedy and fabulous lyrics and music. Divided into three acts, the sets were well designed. The choreography in the dances were well done and well performed.
This was a fun musical. Little did anyone know, that in 1954, when this play launched in the West End, it was the stage debut for a unknown actress called Julie Andrews. Of course, the rest is history.
I loved The Boy Friend, and it’s a fantastic production. My understanding is that it is likely to be touring the UK after it ends its run at the Open Air Theatre this weekend. If you do see it around you, do try to catch it.
Links:
The Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park
Wikipedia entry for The Boy Friend