The Boy Friend by Sandy Wilson

I had not seen a live performance of The Boy Friend and looked forward to this production. This was a bit different as it was set as a play within a play, the centre stage being the performing area with the dressing rooms on either side. Although you could see the actors moving in and out of dressing rooms while the main action was on stage, I didn’t find this distracting.
This made for minimal set changes, so the action did not slow. The performers were all professional and very good. As Polly the petite Esther Hannaford was appropriately timid and unsure of herself but sang and danced up a storm. As her boy friend, Alex Rathgeber had the appropriate good looks and lovely voice to charm anyone.
The secondary set of lovers, Bobby and Maisie, were played by the charming Tim Campbell and effervescent Christie Whelan. Operatic baritone Grant Smith brought a sophistication to Percival and worked well with Rhonda Burchmore as Madame Dubonnet.
There were many stand-outs, particularly the diminutive Kellie Rode as Hortense. The dancing was energetic and tight, the orchestra was superb and the sound very good. This is a light show but very well done.

Graham Ford