The Boy Friend

There has been much reminiscing recently about a major event of June 1953, in which a stalwart of this Society, then Head Chorister at the Minster, was directly involved.  Elsewhere in London at that same time, this show was enjoying the first few weeks of its successful run and so it was an appropriate choice.

It’s a lovely, bubbly sort of show, ideal for a summer evening and, set in the 1920s, provides an opportunity for much fun as a pastiche of styles of that period.  This production succeeded up to a point but I felt that the attitudes and posturings of the upper classes of the period could have been sent up even more.  Nevertheless, I was completely taken in by the aristocratic tones and Etonian accent of the leading man and amazed to learn that he was actually American! There were some good characterisations from the “perfect young ladies” and their boyfriends.  The choreography was true to the period, although not without some inventive moves too and some fine groupings provided an excellent picture with which most of the numbers ended.  I was a little disappointed that the accompaniment should be restricted to keyboard, bass and drums when the score warrants a little more; the overture and entr’acte, where, of course, the Band is exposed, seemed  particularly lightweight, although the need to listen more carefully did seem to prevent the audience chatter which often accompanies these items.              

A cast comprising some York regulars and others whose names were new to me provided an enjoyable evening. 

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