Ok, I just got back from seeing it, and fresh in my mind and freely smoking a ciggy and having a cocktail while I pen my impression of the show.
I loved it! I may be biased (Boy cold defecate on stage on I would love it), but it really is a good show overall. My one major impression is that the cast needs to "gel" a bit as an ensemble for the whole production to flow just a tad bit better, but hey, this was the last preview. Now we shall see what the critics say.
The composite character for all the men in Boy's life was oh-so-my-type and I so understood the whole straight boy who likes the painted girly boys but can't deal with the fact that he does like...well you know what I mean. I got it, and the kiss was far more provocative than anything I have heard about from the Boy From Oz.
The sets, costumes, and wigs are all fabulous and any Broadway hagatha will live for the dance sequences- very jazz hands in 80s redux.
As for the performances, Raul Esperanza chews up the scenery, and steals the show (and some of his lines are very clearly Charles Busch influenced- in that snappy 40s movie jezebel way). Boy portrayed Leigh as I suppose he saw him, and I see it as homage. Didn't Leigh want to be famous for his artristry and creativity? So perhaps this is Boy's way of fulfilling Leigh's ultimate dream, just like he said as he was dying in the show (I'm not giving anything away- we all know he does). Euan Morton captures much of what George was about, the cheeky innocence and then the spoils of fame and descent into druggy madness (which could have been a bit more dramatic but his spittle was pretty convincing). And the guy who played Marilyn had the part down pat, period- hanger on bitchy butch femme queen.
The song Il Adore, which is orginally from Cheapness & Beauty released in 1995, was written for Leigh, but it reminds me so much of my college roommate Jeremy who in his own way had that free fuck you spirit that Leigh had, and he also is no longer with us taken by the same illness, but he would have loved the show.
And oh before I forget, the whole audience was a a buzz because Madonna was there- she was two rows behind Vulgar Greek and I, and I must say she does look fab...
So go, make up your own mind, but go with a light heart in the mood for an entertaining Broadway show, and pay homage to both Boy & Leigh.
[This message was edited by randella on 11-13-03 at 12:02 AM.]