For All You TABOO Fans- Page 2

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:33pm

Just FYI... the Broadway production of TABOO was professionally filmed in its entirety and a 20 minute DVD of highlights was sent to Tony Voters, this being a separate taping from the Lincoln Center Archives. I doubt this recording will ever see the light of day, but it definently does exist. Apparently, Rosie is in negotiations with BRAVO to do a made-for-tv version in the near future. She seems to still be completely enamored with the show, suprisingly not bitter at all and refers to the Broadway debacle as a learning experience, and constantly reminds her fans that TABOO lives on. I'll tell you one thing: TABOO was far and away the best score of that season (and Stephen Sondheim agrees with me!).

In my opinion, the London version was 50% there, the Broadway version 75% there... and maybe the third version will finally work. Considering how erratic George's behavior is these days, I fear he may be the fly in the ointment, at least as far as what dramatically works versus the fulfillment of his own personal vendetta (which, when the show was running on Broadway, he was given a "break" at the top of Act II to say anything he pleased, which he did). If George would be less concerned about what is good for HIM and his career and more concerned with what is good for THE SHOW, we would have a perfect TABOO. Alas, I really don't see that happening.

A Good Nightmare Comes So Rarely,
P genre
Updated On: 9/3/06 at 01:33 PM

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:07pm

I do agree that Taboo's score is stunning. It's really beautiful as a theatrical score.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:11pm

TABOO meant something really special to me, though I don't know why. I saw it 14 times, and wish I could have seen it more.

The score WAS great, but I think the winner that year (if not George), should have been CAROLINE.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:12pm

Definitely. George's score is remarkable. I loved the entire Broadway show. Saw it four times and would have continued to see it had it ran longer. I had my reasons for seeing it mutiple times-Raul, Boy George, Euan, Jeffrey, Liz, etc. Very entertaining show.

I thought Raul's "Petrified" was alone worth the price of the ticket.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 2:55pm

I just purchased the 3 disc set in July, abd all 3 discs are region free.

[west end artist1]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:03pm

Love this dvd it came out years ago over here and ive watched it a lot.One of my best mates john partridge is playing marilyn in the show hes fab in it.

I have to say though the uk wept when we heard what it had been turned in to in the states.I got on a plane with some freinds to see it there and was shocked.

It was so broadway,over done,glossy and even the music had been given a razzle dazzle makeover ,and that is not taboo.

The papers over here reviewed the broadway version and compared it to our small funky intimate musical and the reviews were awfull.

Taboo seemed really unique and quite original when it opened here and it got a lot of praise ,the broadway version just seemed like an overblown spectacle.

Taboo worked here because it was a little show with a big heart but all that got lost on broadway.I think the broadway version did a good job with the song out of fashion but that was pretty much it.

The uk show is touring here next year, the way it was done at the Venue.

Thats Taboo

xx

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:15pm

Agree 100% with you, West End.

It wsa much much better in London

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 6:19pm

It WORKED better, I'll say that.

The performances on Broadway were better, the music was better, etc. It just didn't WORK.

[west end artist1]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 7:28pm

Oh my god caroline-Q-or Taboo did u just agree with me hehe

[kaycee]

Posted: 9/3/06 at 11:48pm

Oh wow, how strange for them to release it in Japan! I will definitely have to get my hands on this though. I have absolutely no complaints about the Broadway production, but it seems everyone liked the London one better, which makes me all the more eager to see it!

I hope Rosie is able to make something come of the bravo thing. I don't know why, but Taboo really struck a chord with me. I still listen to the cast recording probably more than I should.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:36am

CRAP!!!! West End!!!

what i MEANT to say was

"geez! you're stupidd!"

better?

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 4:45am

It si a shame that the sound and picture quality is pretty terrible on this taping... it does not quite capture the atmosphere of seeing it live at The Venue either...

Having said that I am very happy to have this as a keep sake to remind of the many times I saw the show there.

[TabooWickedFan]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 10:51am

thanks for letting us know, i will have to check this out

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 5:09pm

In case thre was any lingering doubt, I just received mine today and it's playing just fine in my $30 K-Mart DVD player.

[Bruce Memblagh!]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 5:28pm

the broadway production was dreadful and lost all of the impact of the much superior London version. The ONLY improvement on the broadway Taboo was the much better sounding orchestrations.

[LC]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 8:01pm

"...maybe the third version will finally work. Considering how erratic George's behavior is these days, I fear he may be the fly in the ointment, at least as far as what dramatically works versus the fulfillment of his own personal vendetta...If George would be less concerned about what is good for HIM and his career and more concerned with what is good for THE SHOW, we would have a perfect TABOO..."

Rosie owns the international rights, and BG does not own the UK rights, he has never owned any of it, so I doubt he would have any involvement in any future Taboo. Having said that, I would like to see it have a future (I agree about the score)

Have to mention re; this DVD...that the scenes of BG and his understudy in full Bowery regalia dancing around the aisles in the Virgin Megastore make me laugh out loud.
Updated On: 9/5/06 at 08:01 PM

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 8:22pm

I just finished watching it. My God. There was so much RIGHT about Act One. It wasn't perfect. It definitely needed work, but it was GREAT.

Act Two, though. Sheesh. It just went so woefully off-track. All the really interesting parts were wrapped up lickety-split leaving us to dwell on the most uninteresting parts of the show. Then, just when everything seems to be hopelessly lost, the entire cast picks up and goes to INDIA (?!) after a brief mention that a secondary character happens to be there - resulting in a rushed and hokey finale.

What's worse, all of the things I thought were most promising about the show get mentioned in the commentary as being cut in the Broadway version. I never saw the Broadway version, so I don't know what the changes were, but Josie was my favorite character. I wish her storyline hadn't been wrapped up so neatly at the top of Act Two, and I wish the number for that (Independent Woman) hadn't been so disappointing.

If there is a new version in the works, I hope they look to the beginnings of the London production and start from there. I'd love to see the wonderful story I saw in Act One coupled with a complete and well-thought, satisfying Act Two.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 9:04pm

Do any of you fellow Taboo fans know where I can find the sheet music for Come On In From the Outside?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 10:44pm

No, but i love that song.

almost as much as Pie in the Sky

[west end artist1]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 11:05pm

Arrrrrrgh how can people not like the UK Taboo it was so much better than the panto that was the broadway production.

I thought the india part was funny (and true as BG did go of to india)and it worked really well as an ending.

I have to agree that Independent woman is an awfull song though yuk.

I love petel in the UK production but Rosie thought he was to Crass for american audiences so took him out grrrrr.

The moment where philip comes out in to the audience and chats(insults)them is fab ,again this had to go because they were afraid audiences in the states would be offended(double grrrrrrrrr).

To be honest i wassn't shocked at what was done to Taboo on Broadway as i kinda expected it,It's a very dirty ,gritty little british show so i knew it would have to be given a face lift before it got to New York (as im sure will happen to Billy Elliot as well).

According to John Partridge the show WILL go out on a UK tour in 2007 as he's been asked to come back as Marilyn.
I can't wait to see it again,i just hope they keep the broadway bit's of the show out!!

xx

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 6:24am

I saw it twice on Broadway after seeing it a LOT in London. The first time I saw it on Broadway I didn't like it all but a few days later on its final Matinee I liked it more having become accustomed to the changes.

[LC]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 12:47pm

"According to John Partridge the show WILL go out on a UK tour in 2007 as he's been asked to come back as Marilyn.
I can't wait to see it again,i just hope they keep the broadway bit's of the show out!"

I suspect it will be the UK version. I remember hearing that the previous UK tour asked if they could use one or more of the new songs written especially for the NY production (Fame Game, Come On In...) but Rosie said no. I think Rosie owns all but the UK rights.

[Luscious]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 2:14pm

How bad is the picture and sound quality of the 3-Disc DVD set? I'm very interested in purchasing it, but if the picture and sound quality are really dredful, I'd rather pass. And can anyone who owns a copy tell me if the DVD has been "Enhanced for Wide-Screen (16x9) Televisons. Another words, is it Ananmorphic Wide-Screen. My guess is no, but just though I'd ask. If it is, it should say so on the back of the DVD case. Thanks in advance for the assistance.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 4:12pm

I wouldn't call it dreadful, but it's not as good as I would expect from a pro-shot. It looks like it was shot for widescreen and formatted to full screen. What that would look like on a widescreen television I couldn't tell you.

But no, it doesn't say "Enhanced for Wide-Screen (16x9) Televisons" on the back.