Review:
"Theatre Arlington musical is all sweetness and light"
Posted on Tue, Jun. 17, 2008
Theatre Arlington’s production of The Boy
Friend on Thursday.
It is directed by B.J. Cleveland. Star-Telegram/Tom Pennington
By Mark Lowry
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
ARLINGTON — Theatre Arlington’s big summer musical is Sandy
Wilson’s 1954 confection The Boy Friend, a spoof of the light
and playful musicals of the 1920s. Depending on your tolerance
for sugar, it might normally be too much to take. But, in harsh
times, perhaps saccharine-drenched escapism is just what the
doctor ordered. And despite flaws, director/choreographer B.J.
Cleveland’s staging is rewarding.
The story: Set in Nice, France, in the ’20s, this is your
classic girl-falls-for-boy-who-may-not-be-right-for-her plot.
That girl is British heiress Polly, a role originated on
Broadway by Julie Andrews (at TA, it’s Chelsea Wilson Thayer,
who gives by far the production’s finest performance). While
hanging out with her gal-pals at Madame Dubonnet’s School for
Young Ladies, Polly meets handsome Tony (a charming Rick
Starkweather). The problem? He’s a mere delivery boy. Dilemma:
Do what society expects of you, or follow your heart?
Meanwhile, pretty much every other character in the show ends up
in what’s sure to be a blissful boy-girl matchup, even the
proper Madame Dubonnet (Christine Chambers), after her encounter
with Polly’s father, Percival (Michael Black)
The production: The visuals are a treat. Jack Hardaway’s set,
Ana F. Pettit’s lighting, Cathy O’Neal’s props and the costumes
(credited to Costumes by Dusty) all evoke the lighthearted
spirit of the well-to-do on a sunny beach in the south of
France. That means beach balls, headbands, changing tents and,
yes, a masquerade ball.
One wishes some of the other female singers (notably Angela Horn
as Dulcie and Carleen Kirksey as Hortense) were as vocally
strong as Thayer, who also beats everyone else in finding
believable heart underneath all that joie de vivre.
Drink up: An hour before this Thursday’s show, TA hosts "BYOB
night," where you can bring your beverage of choice to enjoy
before curtain (IDs will be checked, depending on what you
bring). This show is definitely worthy of a glass of bubbly.
The Boy Friend Through July 13; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays
Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St., Arlington
$17-$20
817-275-7661; www.theatrearlington.org
Be advised: The only danger you might be in is an overdose
of happy, which really isn’t so bad, is it?
Runtime: Two hours, 10 minutes with two intermissions.
Best reason to go: Thayer’s performance.
Mark Lowry, 817-390-7747
mlowry@star-telegram.com
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