Tails of Polly Browne

Hi my name is Polly Browne! I'm arguably the most beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the world but also the goofiest! I belong to Fleur and Joey, who love me to no end. I just turned 3 years old in June, and I am just as energetic as I was when I was a puppy. There is no limit to my love for just about anyone and anything I meet. Thanks for visiting my page! Please come to Austin so I can lick you to death and give you the "PB smother-hold!!"

I get asked quite a bit how we came up with the name Polly Browne. And of course there's a story behind the name (contrary to popular belief, it's not because she has brown spots). It's a quite obscure reference in true Fleur fashion, but would I have it any other way?

Polly Browne is a name of the heroine of the 1950s musical, The Boy Friend, written by Sandy Wilson. Set in the 1920s, it's one of those plays that's about a play. The musical ran over 2,000 times in London, and then went on to Broadway, starring then up-and-coming Julie Andrews as Polly Browne. Now, obviously I did not see the play, as my mom was still a young girl in the 1950s, but the play was crafted into a film in the 1970s starring another new starlet, Twiggy. This is where I come in.

As children, my sister Maya and I watched a lot of obscure musical theatre, among other gems (or "freakshows" as Joey fondly refers to the stuff I watched as a kid). I don't know how my mom came across most of the things we watched, but I am grateful because I think it helped in shaping mine and Maya's rather eccentric personalities.

The Boy Friend is a delight, and if you have an open mind and haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. From what I've read, the film version is loosely translated from the original, and it is the perfect blend of vague absurdity and talent combined with utter nonsense....British style. I've tried to get Joey and some friends to get on board, but 20 minutes in, their faces reflect great confusion and angst. We never make it to the end. Oh well. I'll always have my sister to do the Charleston with (reference to the film...you have to watch it to understand.)

So what does all of this have to do with our little Miss Polly Browne? There is a scene with the director of the play slash actor when he feels like it, is yelling at his costume mistress to keep her dog away from him. She leaps into fury and yells with defiance and insanity, "SHE'S NOT A DOG!! SHE'S A KING CHARLES!!!" And indeed she was. I found that scene hilarious as a kid, and it always stuck with me. I had never seen this type of spaniel in real life, not until we got our own, as they're not very common in Louisiana. So when it came time for Joey and me to get our first dog, I knew I wanted to see about a King Charles. And so I have The Boy Friend to thank, because otherwise I don't think I would have ever known about the breed, and they are truly the best companion dogs you could ask for. I've never seen another dog so filled with unconditional love and joy.

All this to say, our dog is named after the heroine of The Boy Friend because this is where I first heard of the King Charles and because it encapsulates a very fond childhood memory. So if you've ever wondered how Polly Browne became Polly Browne, now you know!