Trivial Pursuit #110

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:44pm

The British Musical THE BOY FRIEND (which made it to Broadway in 1954) gently parodies the fads and fobiles of hit musicals from the 1920s.

EVERY song in THE BOY FRIEND is a direct "take-off" on a similar song from a 1920s musical.


Which song in THE BOY FRIEND parodies the enormous song hit from the 1920s--"Tea for Two"?


GOOD LUCK, Everybody!!!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:49pm

Hint #1: A British Publishing Company.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:54pm

Hint #2: The Harry Potter Books (and consider Hint#1 in conjunction.)

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:57pm

Hint #3: "A residential district of north-central London, England, made famous by its association with an influential group of writers, artists, and intellectuals, including Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, and John Maynard Keynes, in the early 20th century."

--Dictionary.com

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 1:58pm

"Room in Bloomsbury"?

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:02pm

HEY, Gov!!!

You GOT IT!


YES, Sandy Wilson wrote "A Room in Bloomsbury" as a direct take-off on "Tea for Two."


CONGRATULATIONS!!!


And now for your bonus points:


Anne Rogers created the lead female role of 'Polly' in the original West End production of THE BOY FRIEND--Julie Andrews was the first 'Polly' on Broadway.


But who played 'Polly' in Ken Russell's 1971 film version--which made ENORMOUS changes to the plot and added many songs NOT in the original musical?

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:04pm

Twiggy.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:10pm

RIGHT AGAIN, Gov.!!!


YES, in Ken Russell's misguided "film version" of THE BOY FRIEND (it seemed like he was trying to parody 20s stage musicals AND 30s film musicals--ALL AT THE SAME TIME!)--quite an interesting flick...

Anyway, Gov.--you have indeed won T.P. #110 and your prize is the following:


You come from a wealthy family--but decide to get away from your family and get a job as a poorly paid messenger boy--but then you meet a student at a finishing school--who thinks you're a thief--but then YOUR parents show up--and you go into hiding--OMG, is anybody getting as CONFUSED as I am?


ANYWAY, Gov., that's your prize! Enjoy!!!


Have a pleasant weekend, folks!!!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:15pm

"Tea for Two":

I'm discontented with homes that I've rented
So I have invented my own

Darling, this place is lovely oasis
Where life's weary taste is unknown

Far from the crowded city
Where flowers pretty caress the stream

Cozy to hide in, to live side by side in
Don't let it apart in my dream

Picture you upon my knee
Just tea for two
And two for tea

Just me for you
And you for me alone

Nobody near us to see us or hear us
No friends or relations
On weekend vacations

We won't have it known, dear
That we own a telephone, dear

Day will break and I'll wake
And start to bake a sugar cake
For you to take for all the boys to see

We'll raise a family
A boy for you
And a girl for me

Can't you see how happy we would be


Music: Vincent Youmans
Lyrics: Irving Caesar


Copyright © ASCAP. All rights reserved.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 2:17pm

"A Room in Bloomsbury":

A life of wealth does not appeal to me at all
Do you agree at all?
I do

The mere idea of living in a palace is
So full of fallacies
That's true

I've got a very different sort of scheme in mind
It's just a dream designed
For two

Would you care to hear about it, dear?
Would I care to?
Can you doubt it, dear?

All I want is a room
In Bloomsbury

Just a room that will do
For you and me

One room's enough for us
Though its on the top floor

Life may be rough for us
But its troubles we'll ignore

On a Wintery night
I'll light a fire

Everything I shall do
As you desire

You'll be sitting
And you'll be knitting
And so contented we'll be
In our dear little room in Bloomsbury

All I want is a room
In Bloomsbury
Just a room that will do
For you and me

I'll sew the covers for
Two old cosy armchairs
Neighbours will love us for
We shall laugh at all our cares

While I'm reading a book
I'll cook a stew
Then I'll bake a plum duff
Enough for two

In our attic
We'll be ecstatic
As lovebirds up in a tree
All we want is a room in Bloomsbury


Music and Lyrics: Sandy Wilson


Copyright © ASCAP. All rights reserved.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 3:53pm

okay, now without WWW help or looking in reference books (honor system) name the sequel to THE BOY FRIEND, also by Wilson? (and only seen in America regionally, to my knowledge, though recently either had a cast recording re-issue or a new studio cast recording of the score).

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 4:00pm

The sequel to THE BOY FRIEND was called DIVORCE ME, DARLING!

As THE BOY FRIEND gently parodied the musicals of the 1920s--DIVORCE ME, DARLING! had fun with musicals of the 1930s.

Unlike THE BOY FRIEND, it was not a success in the West End and has NEVER played on Broadway.

I do think, however, the original West End Cast Album is a delightful listen!


I guess one of the unbreakable rules of American Musical Theatre is that, for some reason, SEQUELS DON'T SUCCEED.


Look at:
Let 'em Eat Cake
Annie 2
Bring Back Birdie

Updated On: 4/24/05 at 04:00 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 9:01pm

as usual, Mary Ethel, you are correct. Good for you. i only really know of DIVORCE ME because a local regional did it here before i moved here and i heard about it...actually it was highlights of THE BOY FRIEND for Act One and highlights of DIVORE ME DARLING for Act Two. The choreographer was Susan Stroman, this was mid-80's. Wish i could have seen it!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 9:10pm

Believe it or not, Cyma Rubin (the Prducer who produced the hit 1971 revival of the 1920s musical NO, NO, NANETTE) gave consideration to reviving THE BOY FRIEND (and presenting DIVORCE ME, DARLING! on alternate nights)...


For the full story, please see The Making of No, No, Nanette by Donald Dunn. (A FASCINATING insider's view of the making of a Broadway Production, BTW).

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 4/24/05 at 10:05pm

sounds great, will add it to my "must read" list. But i still haven't started GHOST LIGHT and i'm itching to read that! not enough hours in the day...