Happy 60th Anniversary to THE BOY FRIEND!

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 1:29am

60 years ago today, Julie Andrews made her Broadway debut in the delightfully old-fashioned comedy musical: THE BOY FRIEND. After opening at the Players' Theatre in 1953 and on the West End in January of 1954, THE BOY FRIEND opened at the Royale Theatre 60 years ago and ran for 485 performances, to be revived in 1970. It is very sad that Sandy Wilson, the composer of this musical, died recently, but the delightful cast album featuring a very young yet still perfect Julie Andrews can readily be listened to and enjoyed. To all of you who do know know this show, I ask you to take today to listen to THE BOY FRIEND at some point during the day. It is musical comedy heaven.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 6:47am

Having sat through The Last Ship last evening, I'll definitely be listening to The Boy Friend today as a panacea. But as it is, I listen to it all the time anyway.

"All I want is a room in Bloomsbury...'

All I want are musicals like The Boy Friend!

As an admirer of Sandy Wilson, are you familiar with his album, Sandy Wilson at The Players? It's delightful.



Updated On: 9/30/14 at 06:47 AM

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 11:10am

I am familiar with that album in sorts. I own the Players' cast albums to THE BOY FRIEND, DIVORCE ME, DARLING, and CALL IT LOVE, which I believe are the three albums that make up the track listing to Sandy Wilson at the Players, so I know the music from that album, even though I don't own that album specifically.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 11:23am

I have had so much fun working on three productions of The Boy Friend through the years. Such a beautifully constructed show with an effervescent score, sensational dance arrangements and characters full of humor and heart. It's a shame that we don't see it mounted more often.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:30pm

It's a lovely score, and a wonderful tribute musical to my favorite period - The Roaring Twenties! I love the OBC as well as the 1970 revival cast recording.

Updated On: 9/30/14 at 02:30 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:30pm

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:30pm

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:30pm

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:31pm

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:31pm

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:31pm

Note: The ones without Julie are actually the tour cast. The sets and costumes appear identical however.

Updated On: 9/30/14 at 02:31 PM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:52pm

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 2:52pm

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 9/30/14 at 8:39pm

Having only ever seen the Ken Russell film fantasia (which I absolutely adore), it's sweet to see shots of the original stage production. I wonder if in this day and age there'd be any viable way to mount this thing on a Broadway stage in its simple original form. I for one would REALLY love to see a genius like Tommy Tune try his hand at bringing the film's take on the material back to life on a Broadway stage, with that whole see- sawing between gritty provincial reality vs. musical comedy fantasy. Imagine if Tony Walton could be persuaded to revisit his amazing designs onstage as well! Heaven!