I've just got back from seeing TABOO

[JakeB]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 6:27pm

.. and I absolutely loved it.

I'm one of those people who's really fussy about what I like and what I don't like.. and there are so many productions that ruin it by having small unseen-to details that let it down. Taboo didn't.

I thought the script was very very funny.. but it also knew when enough was enough and it was time for grittiness. Boy George's music isn't distracting from the script, and the script isn't distracting from the music.

The costumes were great fun, though I was glad that I was 'looking in' and not by any means a part of the 80s era. At times I wondered whether the whole 'this is us' thing would become too much, but the 'Bromley-family' made there something to ground yourself on.

Thought the set worked excellently too. One fixed nightclub set where everything happens around it. How funny that this works so badly for some musicals, yet so well for this. (I'm thinking of course of Rent, where I found the staging on that metallic wreck a big fat mess).

The star of the show for me? No, not Boy George, no, not Leigh Bowery - but Phillip Sallon. What a performance! (though the lesbians in front of us did NOT laugh at the jokes poking fun at them.. they're the ones missing out..) I have to say, I did DREAD it when Leigh Bowery came out. I'm pleased I never saw the original London production, in such a smaller intimate atmosphere I think it would have been much more uncomfortable.

Without the lure of free tickets, I don't think I would have bucked up the courage to see this.. again, that was another reason I didn't want to see it in London, it's just not really my thing. But having seen it, I'm so glad I went and will certainly recommend it to friends.

Jake.

P.S For those wondering, I'm talking about the UK tour

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 6:45pm

Who is playing Phillip Sallon in the tour?

[LC]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 8:55pm

Drew Jamyson, who originally played Steve Strange in the West End version, and can be heard singing Out Of Fashion as a solo on the UK cast CD.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 9:50pm

I was wondering whose voice that was today as I was listening to the cd again. Very nice job on that song! but I did like the broadway version better, which had all the leads singing.

[LC]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 10:09pm

It was a quartet in the London show, I just think BG wanted to give all the key peformers a solo on the CD.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/04 at 10:54pm

I see! I sure hope he doesn't do that on the NY cd!

[LC]

Posted: 2/17/04 at 3:36am

Don't think so They all have their big solos in the Broadway version.