Musicals with book, lyrics and music by the same person seem to be bit of a rarity. And rightfully so, musical-making should be a team effort. The Boy Friend is the exception that makes the rule, though. With music, lyrics and book by Sandy Wilson, those attributes on display in the original Broadway cast album seem charming.
This is also one of the few musicals of the 1950s that I've encountered that jumped the pond the other way, starting life in London before being imported to New York. The liner notes for the CD reissue give a bit of the story of the creation of this musical--from cabaret act to full-blown show on the West End and Broadway, but doesn't say if Julie Andrews was part of the importation or if she was just in the Broadway incarnation. Regardless, this show was Ms. Andrews Broadway debut, and already on display is the 19 year-old's trademark crisp enunciation and lovely soubrettish voice. The vocal demands on her are not great in The Boy Friend (a few high notes, a bit of low-lying coloratura) but she delivers them with charm.
The music in this score is uniformly delightful, capturing every aspect of the 1920s era it seeks to evoke. The funny "Safety in Numbers" song deserves life outside the show. Actually, the show deserves a continued life, although I never see notice of it being produced. Given the young ages of the cast of characters and the several good roles for young women, I can't imagine why high schools and colleges don't produce this all the time. Maybe they do and I've just never noticed.
The Boy Friend
Music, lyrics and book by Sandy Wilson
Opened on Broadway in 1954 and ran for more than a year
Cast: Julie Andrews, Ann Wakefield, John Hewer, Eric Berry, Ruth Altman, Dilys Lay,
This is also one of the few musicals of the 1950s that I've encountered that jumped the pond the other way, starting life in London before being imported to New York. The liner notes for the CD reissue give a bit of the story of the creation of this musical--from cabaret act to full-blown show on the West End and Broadway, but doesn't say if Julie Andrews was part of the importation or if she was just in the Broadway incarnation. Regardless, this show was Ms. Andrews Broadway debut, and already on display is the 19 year-old's trademark crisp enunciation and lovely soubrettish voice. The vocal demands on her are not great in The Boy Friend (a few high notes, a bit of low-lying coloratura) but she delivers them with charm.
The music in this score is uniformly delightful, capturing every aspect of the 1920s era it seeks to evoke. The funny "Safety in Numbers" song deserves life outside the show. Actually, the show deserves a continued life, although I never see notice of it being produced. Given the young ages of the cast of characters and the several good roles for young women, I can't imagine why high schools and colleges don't produce this all the time. Maybe they do and I've just never noticed.
The Boy Friend
Music, lyrics and book by Sandy Wilson
Opened on Broadway in 1954 and ran for more than a year
Cast: Julie Andrews, Ann Wakefield, John Hewer, Eric Berry, Ruth Altman, Dilys Lay,
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