What's the deal with Taboo?- Page 2

[luluhed]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 9:53am

LC, thanks for the info. Sounds like a plum role, and if anyone can do it, it's Raul.

I also take exception with 'lucky break' in regards to Raul. What exactly does that mean? I infer it as one lucky move for someone who may have been there at the right time and place, or some other turn of events other than talent. He's going pretty far on a lucky break, wouldn't you say? His first major role once coming to NY was as Riff Raff in Rocky Horror. Then as Jonathan in Tick Tick Boom. From there, the offers started rolling in ( Assassins which didn't happen,workshop for Urban Cowboy, Cabaret, double shows at the Sondheim festival, the Comedians, etc etc.) He never let it go to his head, and works very hard. He happens to be enormously talented. If he doesn't appeal to you as a performer, then fine but I have to disagree with lucky break.

[Feathah]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 11:42am

I'm excited to see Taboo. The subject matter, era in which it is set, and music all appeal to me - not to mention the cast. Let's not damn a show before it even begins rehearsals!

What I don't get is the fact that the cheapest ticket is a whopping EIGHTY bucks! Seems destined for TKTS and discount codes. Who is going to purchase a full-price ticket to this?

[LC]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 1:27pm

I fully expect Euan Morton's performance to be another highlight of this show. He's a fine young actor (well, 26ish I think) with a gorgeous voice, who received an Olivier nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, in what I believe was his first first musical.

[cabarethed]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 5:40pm

LOL, I figured it was something like that with that show. Raul's one of the most intense actors I've ever seen. He throws a ton of energy and passion into every role, it's quite astonishing to witness. His voice is a freakin force of nature, and he's such a chameleon.

[JO125]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 12:18am

Thanks luluhed. I agree with you. Raul is one of the most gifted and hardest working actors I have ever come across, and to chalk up his current success to a "lucky streak" just seems ridiculous in my opinion.

To address "Green Violin" in Philadelphia (mentionned previously) I also saw that production. Interestingly, the Philadelphia reviews seemed pretty good at the time, and Raul received excellent notices for his performance. A few of those reviews can still be accessed, I think, via links on his official website, raulesparza.com. However, for those who felt the show did not live up to expectations, I hardly think that is a reflection on Raul's career. Many an excellent performer has ended up in a show or movie of "questionable" quality, for which initial expectations were high. Does anyone intentionally do a bad show?

That said, regardless of what one might think of that show, on the night I was there, Raul gave the same 200% during that performance that I have seen him give in Rocky Horror, TTB, Cabaret, Sunday, Merrily, Comedians, and various one night readings. He morphed himself into the character and performed brilliantly. For me it was worth the price of the tickets and the drive down just to see him perform and to hear him sing. I hope that Taboo turns out to be a great show, but I am sure that Raul will be one of the show's strongest assets. I'm there!

[cabarethed]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 11:36am

Is this the same Jo from final run nights at the Cabaret stage door??
I saw the same production of Green Violin as you, and I'm not putting down Raul at all. I was, as always, overwhelmed at how he can transcend any material given to him. If anything, I became in even more awe of his talent. I just hated to see it wasted there.
Back to topic, I've started listening to the London Taboo sndtrk, and I can really hear him in the role. It sounds like a fun show.

[JO125]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 4:32pm

Cabarethed, I don't think I am the same Jo, but I think I do know who you are referring to. If you want, please send me a personal message and we can figure that one out. If you are the same Cabarethed who has a terrific Cabaret website (I've enjoyed reading your opinions and stories on that topic) and a Raul Esparza webpage (also great), then I know you think highly of Raul, which is why the wording in your previous post bothered me, I guess. I realize you didn't mean anything against Raul. If you had said he was terrific but you did not like the show, I would understand that. But saying the show was a low point in his career seemed to imply something else. I don't see how a six week run in a small regional production for which he got great reviews and was named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical by the Philadelphia Inquirer could be construed as a low point. And if nothing else, he got to continue honing hs craft in a new and different role, whether or not the play was successful. So I can't see that as a waste of time. Anyway, we all have our opinions and that is what this is all about.

Before this becomes the "Raul" thread , back to Taboo. I have seen pictures from the London producton, and the costumes/make-up--well, seems kind of scary to me. Especially the pix of the Leigh Bowery character. I am still completely intrigued, especially with Raul Esparza in the cast. Pix from the London show had his character, Phillip Sallon, wearing a long, curly, dark wig........hmmmmmm. I do wonder how the costuming/make-up will change, if at all, in the Broadway production.

[LC]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 4:44pm

There will probably be more costumes. Most of the outfits are faithful copies of the originals!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 4:52pm

Did I read somewhere that Rosie O'Donnel is choreographing? Or is that producing?

[LC]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 5:00pm

Producing. Mark Dendy is the choreographer.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 5:02pm

Is that Rosie as in talk show, lesbian?

[PJ]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 5:05pm

Rosie's producing. Heaven help us if she takes up choreography

[Becky]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 5:08pm

"Is that Rosie as in talk show, lesbian? "

Was that necessary? Anyway, yes it is the same Rosie who is producing Taboo. We pretty much have her to thank for bringing it here, and she is also the one to thank for getting Raul to do it.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 5:09pm

Okay, if she got Raul here then she's still cool.

[JO125]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 5:16pm

Kudos to Rosie for knowing the best when she sees it and getting it!

[luluhed]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 6:11pm

Here's hoping that Rosie O'Donnell is a better producer than performer!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 6:26pm

OKLAHOMA! was a "huge hit in London". The Broadway version didn't quite measure up, despite the presence of TSMrW.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/17/03 at 9:41pm

That's true Dollypop. Taboo (American Version) could very well not be as good as the London show supposedly was.

[JO125]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 12:55am

It won't be the "same" show though. I had read that Charles Busch wrote a new script for the Broadway version