Review: 'The Boy Friend' at Flint Hill School

by Ciara Corcoran of Paul VI Catholic High School

Perfect young ladies in search of “The Boy Friend” have no problem finding such a thing when placed in a Madame Dubonnet’s Finishing School settled nicely in the outskirts of Nice. The ladies of Flint Hill School’s production of The Boy Friend charmed the gents in this lighthearted musical comedy about life, love, and longing.

The Boy Friend, written by Sandy Wilson, opened in London in 1954. This previously third-longest running musical gave the infamous Julie Andrews her start in the lead role of Polly Browne. This musical spoof set in the 1920’s portrays the story of a wealthy English girl, Polly Browne, in search of a date to the carnival ball. Her trouble seems to be over when she meets a charming bellhop. When Polly discovers that this is no poor bellhop but the son of a well-off Englishman, her spirit is crushed. All ends well when the couple reunites at the carnival ball to profess their love and dance the night away.

The cast exuded high energy throughout the entirety of the performance. Colorful costumes and time period choreography contributed to the charm of the show by creating a lively atmosphere and a pleasing-to-watch performance. Each character had their own quirks whether it be a flirtatious personality or a sophisticated French accent.

Senior Keeley McLaughlin gave a delightful performance as Polly Browne. McLaughlin’s excellent vocals were particularly notable in such songs as “A Room in Bloomsbury” and “Poor Little Pierrete.” McLaughlin’s onstage partner, senior John Osborn who played Tony, was equally charming, and the pair had excellent onstage chemistry. This innocently in-love couple expressed a dynamic relationship that contrasted nicely with the more “shallow” relationships of their peers.

Junior Grace Cleland oozed flirtation as the spunky Maisie. Her captivating personality was perfectly embodied in the song “Safety in Numbers.” Junior Sophia Campbell played her prim and proper character of Madame Dubonnet with a playful air that complimented senior Adam Cleland’s portrayal of Percival Browne in a charming manner. A particularly notable performance was given by senior Kyle deCamp as the enticing older Englishman Lord Brockhurst. DeCamp managed to portray this debauched older man in way that way hilarious as well as amiable.

Each actor’s hair and make-up fit not only their character, but the time period as well. The older ladies sported chic up-do’s while the younger girls were a bit more playful with curled hair around their shoulders. The gentlemen were well-groomed with their hair out of their faces and the older men exhibited grey hair. The simple make-up enhanced the characters, especially in the case of the tango dancers, without being distracting.

This upbeat musical was brought to life through the vibrant characters and carefree atmosphere. Flint Hill School’s production of The Boy Friend was not only charming, but heartwarming in a way that only stories of falling in love can be.

Editor's Note: The Cappies program is the critics and awards program for high school theater. In this program, high school students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools and write reviews for local news publications. At the end of the year, student critics vote for awards that are presented at a formal Cappies Gala.