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Boney M musical in progress
19/01/2006 12:41 - (SA)
London - ABBA, Queen and Rod Stewart have all seen their songbooks transformed into stage musicals.
Next up - 1970s Europop superstars Boney M, whose mixture of kitsch, glitz and infectious beats topped charts around the world.
Producers announced on Wednesday that Daddy Cool, a musical based on the group's songs, will open in April at London's Shaftesbury Theatre.
The story of star-crossed lovers Sunny and Rose - he a member of a West London crew, she the daughter of an East End club owner - the show features Boney M songs such as Rivers of Babylon, Ma Baker and the title track. It also includes other songs by Frank Farian, the German svengali behind Boney M, including Girl You Know It's True, a 1989 US top 10 hit for infamous lip-synchers Milli Vanilli.
Cast members
"It's very exciting," Farian said Wednesday, launching the show at a London nightclub. "This is my first musical and I'm very proud to present my music from the last 30 years."
Directed by New York-based Andy Goldberg and using Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha as "creative associate", the production stars Harvey from British hip hop collective So Solid Crew; Michelle Collins, former star of soap opera EastEnders; and Javine, Britain's entry in last year's Eurovision Song Contest.
Little known in North America, Boney M had wide European success in the 1970s and 80s. They were one of the first Western pop acts to play in Russia, where they remain popular, and in Britain have three songs among the 10 highest-selling singles of all time.
Farian, 64, acknowledges drawing inspiration from the global success of Mama Mia, the stage hit based around the songs of ABBA.
A Abba, B Boney M, he said. "People ask us, can we do the show in Las Vegas, can we do the show in Moscow. Abba has 14 running productions. I hope we will have 15."
- AP
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South Africa
