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.
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