Closer to Heaven

[Waylon]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 1:56pm

Has anyone ever seen this show? I enjoy the music but am soooo curious how it is on stage.

Waylon :)

[Delphine]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 2:01pm

I too am wondering, being in the same situation as you, Waylon.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 2:04pm

I saw it. It was.......interesting. It's been a while though so aske me specifics and I'll see if I can dredge it up from my memory.

[Delphine]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 2:16pm

Well, did you like it? What were its major flaws?

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 2:17pm

The book was ropey and it seemed to be setting out to shock rather than to tell a story. The characters were all very thinly drawn, the story was rushed. The performances, especially Frances Barber, really lifted the piece though. And the very long gay sex scene in act two was kinda fun.

[Delphine]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 2:19pm

I've read similar reviews. So it wasn't a great show, but did you like it? Did you like the music? Would you recommend it?

[PlaywrightGuyNYC]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 2:23pm

I saw it in London too. It was a weird show, mostly because of the book (which was written by the guy who wrote "Beautiful Thing," if I'm not mistaken). I agree with the other person here who saw it -- thinly drawn characters, all-over-the-place book and I remember that it was ultimately about a guy coming out, which is SO been there, done that at this point. But the music was fun (if a bit repetitive) and it was performed in an intimate theatre, which helped the "club" mood work well.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 3:06pm

I saw it. As a matter of fact, I met Sandra Bernhard and her girlfriend at the show. I hated it. The score was forgettable. The characters were detestable. There was no heart or soul in the show and nothing to care about. The sets were amateurish at best and the choreography was embarassing. If you like the Pet Shop Boys, then you might like some of the score, but even the songs that resemble the PSB were iffy at best. "Vampires" was really the only standout song in the show and the woman who played Billie Trix was excellent. Other than that, I couldn't find anything likeable. Sandra, on the other hand, told me she thought it was "fabulous".

The closing anthem of the show's lyrics call on a search for a "positive role model". The same could be said of the show.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 3:08pm

I have been curious about the show as well...

[PlaywrightGuyNYC]

Posted: 8/26/04 at 4:01pm

I was there the night Sandra Bernhard and her girlfriend were there, too! I remember she was the first to leap to her feet at the end for a standing ovation. (I later heard that the producers were wooing her to do it in NYC, but they never ended up producing it here, obviously.)