A very detailed discourse on THE BOYS IN THE BAND- Page 2

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 1:06pm

I can't speak to the production, which is being marketed oddly, admittedly (and I'm suspicious of cutting almost 30 minutes), but invite anyone to doubt the play's cultural impact to read the wonderful, deeply moving intro to the last edition of the published play, written by Tony Kushner.  Kushner admits there would be no "Angels" without "Boys," and make a strong case for Crowley's bravery, not the opposite. Hey, a lot of people were mad Kushner was a Hillary Clinton supporter, so I can expect "so Kushner likes the play, so?"  But Kushner did write a truly revolutionary play, and his willingness to honor what came before is powerful and poignant. Just my take.  

 

I'll go out on a limb: With Quinto as Harold, I suspect this production will feel more Harold-centric and less about Michael. If you read the text, Harold is the man ahead of the time, or rather the character breaking out of the world Michael deplores. Harold speaks with a sociopolitical savvy that will land as very contemporary. Just read his lines in act two. He's absolutely a gay man with agency and perspective on Michael's angst.  Quinto, attractive, charismatic, may be the event here. Just a guess. But I bet we get to his entrance much quicker, with cuts, and thus a text-based reason for my guesswork.

Updated On: 4/27/18 at 01:06 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 1:11pm

"Kushner admits there would be no "Angels" without "Boys," and make a strong case for Crowley's bravery, not the opposite."

Kushner is a brilliant man, but he's also often quite full of hot air, especially when discussing the work of personal friends.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 1:14pm

"Quinto, attractive, charismatic, may be the event here."

Very attractive, very charismatic indeed. I imagine one of the cuts to the text is Harold's line "What I am Michael is a 32 year-old, ugly, pock marked Jew fairy..." Which sort of perfectly illustrates the trepidation already expressed about this production.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 1:33pm

I feel like Robin de Jesus will end up being the most successful casting here, by nature of the fact that he looks like a person and not a movie star.

[JBC3]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 1:45pm

broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "I am bumping this up because i see NO discussion about this upcoming revival here on the Board...i will be seeing this play the week of June 15th...is anyone else going?...previews start on April 30th..."

I will be at the first preview. Excited for it.

[NievesG]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 1:51pm

newintown said: ""Kushner admits there would be no "Angels" without "Boys," and make a strong case forCrowley's bravery, not the opposite."

Kushner is a brilliant man, but he's also often quite full of hot air, especially when discussing the work of personal friends."

I just finished reading "The World Only Spins Forward" and this comment made me snort. I think I agree..

 

As to the topic, looking forward to Parsons and that's about it.

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 3:20pm

I noticed the autbor of this piece said that he re-watched the movie on tbe eve of the Broadway debut of the play, referring to this current production. It does not debut until th 30th.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 3:27pm

The linked piece really isn't material to the conversation here, I think - it reads like a freshman essay, and one from an agricultural state college, to boot. But it can at least trigger more interesting thought.

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 3:35pm

Lot666 said: "My husband and I bought our tickets back when they first went on sale. We're going on June 1."

We're going June 1st also.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 3:53pm

uncageg said: "I noticed the autbor of this piece said that he re-watched the movie on tbe eve of the Broadway debut of the play, referring to this current production. It does not debut until th 30th."

Eve doesn't have to mean the night before... when people say we're on the eve of destruction, they don't mean it's a day out. 

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 4:52pm

I'm excited for this play! Somebody stated earlier how Millennials hated the movie, but I don't think many have even seen it. It's nice to see 2 LGBT plays on at once, and I hoped to see both Angels and Band, but I don't think I can afford tickets to both nor have the time in my schedule to get tickets to both. It's a nice eye opener for those who do not know the history before Stonewall at least. Andrew Rannells may pull in a few people who normally wouldn't see the show, lots of the fans of the basic 4 have started to enjoy Falsettos and might come out to see Andrew in Band (I think some did that for Waitress Betsy too)!

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 4:55pm

I feel like this production could go one of two ways- very relevant to what is happening now- or very irrelevant and dated. Could be either - and that is my hesitation. And for anyone who says gay subculture and society in general has not changed- I totally disagree. Yes, there is racism, sexism and all of the basest and worst instincts of human beings are still present- and always will be, I suppose- but times have changed socially and for the better- a lot better.

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 5:08pm

IMO, it should be looked upon now as a period piece. Looking back at a time and place that once was, recognizing the progress that has been made, and acknowledging that we still have a long way to go. 

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
- George Santayana

The documentary, MAKING THE BOYS, should be essential viewing before or after seeing the new production.

Updated On: 4/27/18 at 05:08 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 5:42pm

MAKING THE BOYS trailer:

https://youtu.be/eI8WS1D_WwQ

[A Director]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 5:54pm

newintown said: "The linked piece really isn't material to the conversation here, I think - it reads like a freshman essay, andone from an agricultural state college, to boot. But it canat least trigger more interesting thought."

Hey, newintown - I did a search and you are correct, the author went to that well-known agricultural state college the UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO!

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 9:14pm

BWAY Baby2 said: "I feel like this production could go one of two ways- very relevant to what is happening now- or very irrelevant and dated."

It will either be relevant or a time capsule. I don't see a path to it being irrelevant.

[missthemountains]

Posted: 4/27/18 at 9:24pm

Please tell me for the love of god that they are not setting this in present day. That would literally defeat the entire purpose. The 70's are as much of a character as any of the rest of them.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/28/18 at 1:13am

I very much enjoyed this article.

Cannot wait to see this. Just going to go in with no big expectations or reservations unless they set it in the present!

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 4/28/18 at 2:44am

Part of any theatre piece is to make the themes relevant to today's audience so I am sure that it will resonate. I saw it done 20 years ago in SF and found it very relatable. I guess it will just depend on the acting and the direction. It is a solid enough script but  it does not compare to Angels In America. It is really more of an off Broadway venture.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 4/28/18 at 8:07am

Haterobics- When I said irrelevant- I actually meant not really relating to present day reality- not meaningless in the broad sense- my bad. But, I have very mixed feelings about this production- and am waiting for reviews and word of mouth. It kind of reminds me of a black cast doing Amos 'N Andy. I have seen the documentary of Boys In The Band- and really enjoyed it- but I am not sure I want to sit through a bunch of catty, bitchy queens filled with self-doubt, self-loathing- in attack mode. Yes, this does show- and perhaps very accurately- a segment of the gay community at a certain time- when oppression was rife and acceptance nil- and the effects of living in such perilous times is dramatically portrayed- yes- but will it resonate enough to what is happening now in a more general way- will it still be relevant in its message and characterizations- that is what I am wondering. Not just a time capsule- will it say something deep and thoughtful about the human spirit and the effects of living in an oppressive society- that is what I am wondering- and if it seems that it can- by reviews and people posting on this board- I will want to see it- and will see it. Right now- on the fence.

Updated On: 4/28/18 at 08:07 AM

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 4/28/18 at 9:15am

in regards to all this talk about the movie...i remember my friends and i went to see this movie when it first opened up and we all laughed cried and loved it warts and all...because we were all included character-wise in the movie...and on a personal note little did i realize that i too would become a "cowboy" in just a few years...and would also go on to date The Cowboy!...so this play has me very excited and i want to see how the ALL GAY MALE cast portrays all of us gay men...yes the ads are slick but aren't all ads these days slick?..i find that a stupid reason to belittle the effort here to bring this play to the Broadway stage...

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/28/18 at 10:08am

newintown said: ""No fats no Femmes No Asians and the whole Masc culture" have all been around for at least 40 years. Nothing new there."

So does that mean it SHOULD be accepted as the status quo?

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/28/18 at 10:15am

Impossible2 said: "Gizmo6 said: "I saw a fantastic revival in the West End last year and find the comments that this play has dated amusing. If anything the gay community has become more racist and self-loathing evidenced by No fats no Femmes No Asians and the whole Masc culture.

This play is as relevant today I hope they haven’t cut it to shreds, the gay community needs to have a long hard look at its self from the inside."

Exactly.

I have said it many times before, there is no such thing as a gay 'community'.

It is more anextremely dysfunctional family than a community."

Agreed. I am gay, Asian, and a rather big guy, but I don't let these traits define me nor see them as quintessential to who I am as a human being. It is quite toxic nowadays or probably ever for a gay man or woman to think he/she should act or be in a certain way to fit into the so-called "gay community." There are so many things that can define a person and that people have built communities around. You don't have to stick with a certain one. Just go with the one that you feel comfortable in.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 5/1/18 at 10:04am

with THE BOYS IN THE BAND now in previews i wanted to bump this up one more time...‎Matthew Rettenmund has written a detailed scene by scene dissertation of this play and of the movie that followed...a long but great read!

Updated On: 5/1/18 at 10:04 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 5/1/18 at 10:14am

Dancingthrulife2 wrote: "newintown said: ""No fats no Femmes No Asians and the whole Masc culture" have all been around for at least 40 years. Nothing new there."

So does that mean it SHOULD be accepted as the status quo?"

No. Where did you get such a grotesque idea? Were you reading the entire conversation, or just swooping in on random posts out of context?