'The Boy Friend' was written by my Great Uncle Sandy Wilson ( my Gran's little brother) after he had finished at Oxford University. It was a musical pastiche of the 1930s Busby Berkley musical and became an unexpected hit in London and then went onto the Royale Theatre on Broadway New York in Sept 1954. It was a hit and Julie Andrews played the role of Polly. It was her first big show. She became a huge star following this going onto do The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. I remember as a little girl going to see the Ken Russell film version in 1971 in London with my family, it was all very exciting though Sandy did not like the musical arrangement of his classic songs and has moaned about it ever since! Twiggy won two Golden Globes for her performance. She has a wonderful voice and the world found out that she could act and tap dance! The film sets by Tony Walton were and still are fabulous bold art deco extravagances. Room in Bloomsbury is my favourite set, her cream silk dress is amazing. It is good to recently hear Twiggy talking about the fact that it is thanks to The Boy Friend that she got her next big career break into film and singing. It enabled her to showcase her undoubted talent - good luck with your new CD called 'Romantically Yours' Twigs.....
Here she sings 'I could be Happy' my favourite song from the show.
Copy - Schelay McCarter
