Reader Reviews
The Boy Friend (Open Air Theatre, West End)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Only 3 stars simply because the show is completely daft with repetitive songs and a ridiculous "plot". However, the cast attack it with enormous vitality and a sense of fun without resorting to 21st century irony. It's ideally suited to a summer afternoon at this venue and I cannot really see it transferring successfully to a traditional theatre. Those two 20-minute intervals would have to go as well. - 62.6.139.13) | 08 Sep 06 |
| Like an over sugared pie, yet some wonderful performances. A couple of weak links in the leads, but i enjoyed it - 81.1.100.86) | 23 Aug 06 |
| what a wonderful production! a superb cast, great set and fine choreography. a lovely evening out that I will definately repeat before the run finishes! - 86.134.12.4) | 22 Aug 06 |
| Absolute tip top entertainment-great songs, fabulous costumes and extremley well acted. The show is thoroughly uplifting. The number "It's never too late" (to fall in love) was performed to perfection and brought the house down. Musical theatre at it's best! - 212.135.157.226) | 07 Aug 06 |
| It started to rain about an hour before the show started the night we went. Fortunately it stopped 15 mins beforehand and luckily it was so warm it all evaporated. What we then got was one of the most stylish and accomplished productions I have seen in a long while in or out of doors! I was lucky enough to see the Julie Andrew's directed production at the Goodspeed opera house Connecticut last year and thought that the best until I saw this production. My friend's and I, rather embarrassingly, strolled back to Baker Street tube singing Sur la Plage all the way - but what the hell it was great fun. All the cast were just great too - so it may be unfair to single anyone out. However, I must mention Ian Talbot who brilliantly directed it and played Lord Brockhurst with gusto too. - 195.93.21.41) | 06 Aug 06 |
| what a wonderful evening out!fun,laughter,happiness-pure entertainment all supplied by a talented,enthusiastic cast backed up by brilliant musicians,fabulous costumes and great stage sets!go and see it![I'm going twice more,but there again,I'm Polly Browne's Mum!] - 82.42.68.102) | 31 Jul 06 |
| Lovely summer entertainment. Ian Talbot's sparkling, frothy staging of Sandy Wilson's delightful confection is a real treat, full of colourful costumes, lilting tunes and joyous camp humour. The cast are faultless but I particularly enjoyed Anna Nicholas' Mme Dubonnet, Polly Jerram's adorable Polly (surely a star in the making), Summer Strallen and Michael Rouse's terrific young dancing couple and best of all Claire Carrie who steals the show as an outrageous French maid. Bill Deamer's choreography is spot on while Paul Farnsworth's pretty set is the nicest I've ever seen in the Park. Go see it, and have a silly grin plastered all over your face for 2 hours! - 195.82.110.189) | 28 Jul 06 |
| Wow! What a fabulous revival!! Great performances, great sets and costume and wonderful orchestrations. Works perfectly at the Open Air Theatre too. Couldn't disagree more strongly with the comments below about Rachel Jerram's performance. I thought she was delightful in the role, particularly being her first job having only just left drama school. we all could see a future star in her! - 213.122.46.155) | 23 Jul 06 |
| Loved it - a wonderful evening out. The cast seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves as did the whole audience. Summer Strallen was brillant as 'Maisie' and got by far the most rousing reception at the curtain call. The rest of the cast were also excellent with one exception. Would have willingly given five stars or more if possible. However, our party agreed that the performances of Rachel Jerram as 'Polly Browne' was a bit disappointing. Polly is admittedly rather a wishy washy character but the actress could have made far more it and seemed a little uncertain. This was a pity as it made it more difficult for Joshua Dallas to shine as 'Tony'. Despite this he gave an excellent performance. If you want two hours of escapism and to come out of the theatre elated they go and see it. We will definitely go again. - 194.217.194.138) | 23 Jul 06 |
| This show is fantastic and setting is wonderful. By the time we get to Act 3 (night time) it's actually dark and the audience is in the spirit for carnival. I agee with everything MC says, so I won't repeat but it's just ideal summer fun that put you in a great mood coming out humming the tunes and dancing the charleston - 80.43.72.8) | 21 Jul 06 |
| The Open Air's musicals have for many years been one of the treats of summer and this year it has excelled. With terrific staging by Ian Talbot (who also turns in a great comic performance), wonderful sets and costumes by Paul Farnsworth and excellent choreography as fresh as the day, this 53-year old gem comes up sparkling. I'd forgotten how many great songs it contained, and how much it makes you smile. It was thrilling that Sandy Wilson got to see such a magnificent staging of his great show. Summer magic! If you'd prefer to swelter at a West End musical for twice the price, you must be bonkers. - 86.130.219.140) | 21 Jul 06 |
| not my kind of thing i'm afraid. Not really up to the standand of ost things I've seen at the park. - 81.170.17.133) | 20 Jul 06 |
