Boy George In Prison, Leigh Bowery and 'Taboo' -An Appreciation — Page 2

I didn't really like much of the Broadway show. Over-orchestrated, focus shifted back onto the star, and generally confused. What was with casting a Petal as Marylin, and a Marylin as Phillip? I do like 'Sexual Confusion', though I think it should run into 'Church of the Poison Mind'. 'Il Adore' is just glurge when it has more than a piano and a little bit of synth accompanying it, paring it right down gave the song some emotional impact unlike the original release and Broadway restoration.
One of my favourite aspects from the original was that the celebrity who wrote and performed in it was a secondary lead, and only playing a supporting role. The humble nature of that was very attractive - making him the central focus again made it little more than an ego trip.

Great show. Glad they got the DVD out. I wish more shows would do that, even though I understand why they don't.

Sorry, I did my best with the Wikipedia article but Taboo's really not my forte.

In London it played The Venue, off Leicester Sq from autumn 2002 and did great business for a year.
It opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre in 2003 and ran exactly 100 performances.

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE 'TABOO"!

The Broadway production was dreadful, truly dreadful especially if you knew the London production. Rosie should have been shot when that show closed.


James Gillan was Marily to Julian Clarey's George in the National Tour which was a brilliant production designed for large theatres around the UK. The venue in London only seated 200 but the set was amazing and transfered well to the larger stages.
I hope we get to see this show again sometime soon.

Updated On: 1/18/09 at 03:05 AM

The gorgeous Broadway art work that had Americans spinning into a blinding mind***!

euan and luke i see through you

I remember seeing him in a few clubs in the 80s like 'Mud' etc and he was incredibly scary. I do however, also remember hearing his very strong Aussie accent and he would use it swear at people without them understanding what he was saying!.
He was an incredible figure walking around the clubs surrounded by his gangs of freaks. They were enough to sober you up I tell ya!

In 'Taboo' they did get to show off some of his outrageous costumes but in reality some of the ones he wore mostly were pretty wild and freaky, bordering on the obscene.

Updated On: 1/18/09 at 08:52 AM

An Australian who was in the tour of Taboo was Jacqui Rae. She played opposite both Julian Clary and Mark Little (such strange casting there!).

I've seen the UK Taboo 28 times. I've watched the DVD millions of times. I LOVE IT. Such a shame that such an original musical had to flop. I'm a huge fan of the New Romantic's era and think that everything about the show was just mind-blowingly similar to the behaviour. Ok, so the script was a little bit ropey at times, but it was full of Boy Georges's humour and crudeness, which to me, the script got away with...favourite line "you may not have a t**t George, but you certainly know how to behave like one!" Classic Boy George writing. The other thing i loved about the show are the songs, that to me, felt more like poems. They just meant so much, and full of metaphores and hidden meanings. My favourite song would have to be "Pie in the Sky" and "Out of Fasion"
I hope they bring it back, it deserves another chance, maybe George being arrested could cause a big publicity stunt for the show? I want it back, I need it back!!!