BOY MEETS BOY
Music and Lyrics by Bill Solly
Book by Bill Solly and Donald Ward
Actor's Playhouse - Off-Broadway 17 September, 1975 (463
perfs)
Jermyn Street Theatre, London - 27 November - 20th December, 2012 (Season)
Synopsis
Throughout 1936. the world's press and newsreels had been abuzz with stories about the World’s Most Eligible Bachelor; His Majesty King Edward VIII. By the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith. Emperor of India. Titular Ruler of one quarter of the world, the King-Emperor was the most eligible man of his day. Dashingly handsome, he was linked romantically with many; his final choice precipitated a constitutional crisis. Mrs. Wallis Warfield Simpson, an American divorcee, had succeeded where all other had failed. While the United States reeled from the Great Depression, Continental Europe saw the menace of Hitler and the National Socialist party. Meanwhile. Great Britain existed in the twilight of empire, dancing away the last years of pre-war peace. Such is the backdrop for this most entertaining of musical comedies, one with a simple but devastatingly witty twist. Treated in a delightfully matter-of-fact manner, the romantic interest, as the title suggests, is between boy and boy. Bill Solly (music, lyrics and book) and Donald Ward (book) have lovingly recreated the era of the black and white movie musical replete with witty lyrics, memorable melodies and a book which is a gem of humorous writing.
For this show the traditional overture is replaced by a musical prologue, signalling the slight but very significant variation from conventional stories:
Story
It is December 11, 1936; the place, London; the setting, the elegant Savoy Hotel.
Act One
Casey O’Brien, world-famous reporter is throwing a two-day At-Home Party in Room 203. The morning after, he awakens to a hangover and bad news; his friend Andrew arrives to inform him that he has just slept through the story of the decade - the Abdication of King Edward VIII to marry “the woman I love”. They disagree with the ex-King’s priorities. Outside the church, Clarence preens before the waiting reporters and photographers. Actually. they care more about the other groom, whom none of them has ever seen.
On learning that Casey - crack reporter that he is - also is in the dark about the mysterious Guy Rose, the rival reporters describe him as the (imaginary) epitome of good looks and charm: The English Rose. The ruse works. Casey is immediately infatuated, and when the news arrives that Clarence has been jilted at the altar, he dashes off to seek the missing groom.
Back at the Savoy, Casey makes plans to discover the whereabouts of the English Rose and tries, without success, to rid himself of the plain, bespectacled young man who claims correctly, that he is Guy Rose, but fails to convince Casey. In an attempt to obtain an invitation to dinner, Guy is forced to pass himself off as a friend of the “real" Guy Rose who can help Casey in his search.
They visit several expensive restaurants where “Guy” might eat; the entertainers everywhere are singing about a topical and popular subject: Marry an American. But the English Rose is nowhere to be found. However, after a few bottles of champagne, Casey and Guy discover a mutual interest and reminisce about the joys of scouting.
Returning to the hotel, Guy tries to tell Casey the truth about himself, adding a declaration of love. But Casey has fallen asleep and does not hear. Next morning. faced with a gigantic bill, Casey decides to delve deeper into the story of the English Rose. To prevent this, Guy promises to produce Casey’s dream that night at the West End's most fashionable night-spot, the Trocadero. Casey leaves. Helped by desperation. love and the arrival of Casey’s tuxedo from the cleaners, Guy manages to transform himself into a glamorous man-about-town. The "new Guy" is a rousing success. Meeting him as arranged, Casey is immediately enamoured. But before the happy pair can elope to Paris, Clarence convinces Guy that he would be the ruination of Casey’s life and career. Act One ends with Guy renouncing Casey and Clarence triumphant.
Act Two opens in a London Spanish bar with Casey drowning his sorrows in drink.
Clarence commiserates while hoping to catch Casey on the rebound. Meanwhile, Guy has fled to Paris, where his aunt, Josephine La Rose is appearing in "Les Folies de Paris”, the climax of which is a strip number featuring the boys of the chorus. Clarence appears backstage and tries to win Guy back by deceiving him about Casey. Disillusioned and bitter, Guy decides to replace the departing nude in the Folies show. At the news of Guy’s startling announcement, which makes the London papers, Andrew goads Casey into going to Paris to obtain an interview. The resulting encounter between Casey, Guy and Clarence results in Clarence’s re-assessment of himself. Having resolved to turn over a new leaf, he confesses his various plots and deceits to Casey; he adds that the handsome English Rose is also “the mouse with the glasses”. Dashing back to the theatre, Casey arrives on stage just in time to prevent Guy from revealing his all.
The two are touchingly reunited. With newspaper headlines proclaiming two major June weddings - “Duke Marries Mrs. Simpson, O’Brien marries English Rose" - the cast assembles for a spectacular white wedding where Casey and Guy appear as figures atop a giant wedding cake.
Musical Numbers:
Boy Meets Boy
Clarence's Turn
Does Anybody Love You?
The English Rose
Giving It Up For Love
It's A Boy's Life
It's A Dolly
Just My Luck
Let's
Marry An American
Me
Party In Room 203
What Do I Care?
You're Beautiful
Cast:
Andrew
Casey O'Brien
Guy Rose
Clarence Cutler
Josephine La Rose
Discography:
Original Cast Recording - AEI CD 009