Taboo DVD

[chenofan]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 1:57pm

Dose anyone know if the European release of the London production of Taboo will play in the US? I really want to see it!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 2:13pm

I believe the DVD is in PAL format so unless you have a multisystem player, it won't play in your DVD player.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 3:13pm

a lot of the DVD/VCR in one dvd players are new enough that they will play the euro release of Taboo. It also worked on my computer.

[chenofan]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 8:06pm

thanks! Great to hear! Is it worth purchasing it? I live quite a ways away from NYC so I was unable to make it to the real thing.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 9:09pm

They will play on computers and some really relaly cheap DVD players. It doesn't play on mine. The London production was absolutely terrible compared to the Broadway one...get the DVD if you like, but it's hardly a glimpse into the brilliance of Bway's TABOO. PM me...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 9:14pm

Kind of off topic, but why the need to put DVDs in different formats?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 9:18pm

Sometimes movies are released in other countries before it goes global. So, instead of people importing dvds of movies from England before it is released in America, they created the different regions for the dvds.

For example, SHAUN OF THE DEAD was already on dvd in England before it was released in theatres here.

Updated On: 11/30/04 at 09:18 PM

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 2:27am

I wouldnt say the the London version was terrible. It certainly wasnt as good, but then again it was done on a lot cheaper budget. The london version captured a charm, the broadway version couldnt. I guess it was just difference.

Check it out just so you can see a stunning performance by the guy who plays Phillip (yes im too lazy to look up his name). I also have come to appreciate the badness that is the character of Petal. Its soo trasy its good.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 3:23am

Check it out just so you can see a stunning performance by the guy who plays Phillip (yes im too lazy to look up his name). I also have come to appreciate the badness that is the character of Petal. Its soo trasy its good.

Hey you! I actually didn't like the London production too much because I didn't find any of the characters likeable at all. Petal especially just sort of freaked me out. I guess I should watch it again. It's been a while. :P

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 3:51am

I agree - I found the London production very hard to watch and follow. The singing is usually terrible and the "orchestra" is lousy.

[goldes]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 4:59am

A few comments on this thread. First the DVD format itself. European DVD's usually have two differences from the US counterparts. The regional encoding (Region 1, 2, etc.) which is just to protect copyright within specific regions. In other words, an easy way for companies to control their product so they can release a DVD in one region, and release the film in the cinema in another region without worrying people will just buy the DVD. So many DVD players are multiregional these days, which gets you past this problem.

The other difference is the different TV formats around the World. Europe primarily use PAL, the US is NTSC. This means they actual have different numbers of lines and frames/second (I think). So if there is a PAL DVD, even if you have a DVD player that plays multiregions, you should check that it also plays PAL and/or converts PAL images. The world has always had problems agreeing on standards like this...

As for the Taboo DVD, the recording is quite flawed from a sound perspective, and the camera crew were obviously limited in where they could position the cameras. You certainly get the impression that the production team could have done a better job with better positioned camera and sound.

Paul Baker was brilliant as Philip, and David Burt really made Petal a character to remember. My friends and I really got the giggles every time he came on! It's quite a grotesque portrayal, but once you start to laugh at it - it's fantastic.

It's just a shame that the recording didn't take place in time to capture the original cast. Matt Lucas made a far better Leigh Bowery then George ever did. George let the costumes become the character, while Matt Lucas really sunk his acting teeth into the part.

Since a US cast DVD never made an appearance, we can only hope that Rosie decides to turn the show (any version) into a film!

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 5:13am

I agree - I found the London production very hard to watch and follow. The singing is usually terrible and the "orchestra" is lousy.

I agree with you too. I found it very hard to follow and the ending? Oy. What was that all about?

Paul Baker was brilliant as Philip, and David Burt really made Petal a character to remember. My friends and I really got the giggles every time he came on! It's quite a grotesque portrayal, but once you start to laugh at it - it's fantastic.

Paul Baker was very good indeed. I'm totally going to have to watch it again with a different mindset. I want to get the giggles every time he comes on instead of utter fright! LOL

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 5:30am

"The London production was absolutely terrible compared to the Broadway one..."

Did you see it live ??

The shows were very different.. the London show was intimate small piece that better captured the atmosphere of living at the time in England... It was gritty and raw and in your face but with lots of beautiful quiet moments.. I went along about 15 times and loved it with all my heart. It was flawed of course in the way that the India section came out of nowhere and seemed out of place with the rest of the show. Early versions of the show were much sadder and I liked that.. was a shame they erradicated Billy's death.

I hated the Broadway show the first time that I saw it but I must admit it grew on me once I went back again... only thanks to the new songs like "Come on in from the outside"

The character of Nicola really grated on me, Sarah Uriarte Berry's version of safe in the city was appalling. I don't find Raul's version of Philip to be at all endearing and Jeffrey Carlson was a terrible terrible Marilyn. I LOVED Liz McCartney as Big Sue and thought her characterisation and singing were fantastic and of course Euan can do no wrong in my eyes. I loved the section where George spoke to the Audience, seeing the show in the final week he had a lot to say both times !!

Apart from the problems with some of the chracterisations I hated the way they tried to blow up a small intimate piece into a Broadway musical. In London it was all about the atmophere and interaction with the cast, for some reason the show never seemed to work at matinees like the atmosphere was not quite right for it to flow properly.

The DVD of the London prodution ios badly filmed with terrible sound, I would only recommend it to fans that want some momento of a great theatre experience. You certainly cannot judge the London show from seeing it.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 5:49am

The DVD of the London prodution ios badly filmed with terrible sound, I would only recommend it to fans that want some momento of a great theatre experience. You certainly cannot judge the London show from seeing it.

I totally agree with you leeinlondon. From all accounts, everyone who has seen Taboo live in London absolutely loved it. I definitely think it did not transfer well on dvd but unfortunately, that is all I have to judge it by.

At the same time, I also think there's just a much different sensibility between the British and American versions. Where as the former sought a grittier atmosphere the latter certainly tried to be more of a people pleaser.

Definitely apples and oranges with some preferring one much more than the other.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 8:59am

Lee, I'm curious about Billy's death. Can you provide more specifics on how it happened, who killed him or did he kill himself, where in the show it occurred, etc. Thanks.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:22am

The London production was grotesque, trashy, and not tight... but thats what makes it good! I think that Paul Bakers Philip was far better than Rauls... This DOESNT mean that Raul was bad... its just that Raul's Philip was well Raul. Paul Bakers Philip was more true to the character.

The other thing that I like about the London version is that the Marilyn character does not get redeemed. This is what happened in real life so to speak.... Marilyn is a cruel creature.

I really also loved Petal... just for how trashy she was.

George needs to get off the stage and just write lyrics in general.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:32am

Umm, what ever happened to the DVD that Rosie was making of the Bway version? I recall them filming outside of the Plymouth last winter.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:45am

Well, closing night she exclaimed that a CD would be released in March and that a DVD would come in November- well... the CD didnt come out till what July? so expect a DVD in 2056

[taboo17]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 7:13pm

The "Taboo" CD came out on May, 25, 2004 and the signing at the Time Square Virgin Megastore was on May 27, 2004. Very fun day.

I talked to Jennifer, the U.S. "Taboo" documentarian, again a few weeks after that. She told me the documentary would be coming out in September, 2004 and it would premiere on the Rosie & Kelly cruise that was in July, 2004.

Folks told me it did premiere on the cruise. However, I didn't hear any mention in September about it being released. I talked to Jennifer at "Rockin at the Zipper" a few weeks again and she said they still plan to put it out but she was unsure of the date. There were things still being worked out, such as whether it would be on cable, etc.

So, hopefully, we'll all get to see it in the near future .....