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Reply to "The TABOO topic"

I had a chance to see the show early last week. It was POURING rain and I had to sit thru the show with soggy clothing and a loathsome spirit. With that said, I have to say the show was not nearly as rotten as I had envisioned. It was everything a "broadway" show should be. Complete with "connecticut school kids" in cheesy outfits and bad choreography. This is intended for the masses. We must keep this in mind. That was my concern with the subject matter from the get go. Leighs or Georges stories are anything BUT pedestrian, therefore their waterd down cliff note style rise to fame and in Leigh's case demise must be done in enough time to get Granny back to Jersey for a re-run of Highway to Heaven. Personally I felt the actor playing George was most commendable with a fabulous voice and an understanding of the "She was Never He" spirit that George has played out in the public eye for decades. Liz McCartney as Big Sue had some extremely beautiful moments. She has about 15 seconds where her voice fills the theatre in a way that sends chills down the spines of the most jaded of theatregoers. Philips character was also vocally stunning, however his characterization became a bit tedious. His inflections were so over the top, it was as if he were doing acrobats with his voice. A brilliant singer, I was just a little botherd by his portrayal. George was sadly one of the weakest links for me personally. Of course his voice is sweet as syrup in the most gorgeous of ways. I did not feel any depth in his portrayal of Leigh. I didn't feel the electricity that Leigh threw off in a room. I felt the thrust was put upon the costumes and not the brilliant spirit that filled them so beutifully in Leigh's life. Leigh Bowery on a dance floor was INSANE!! I was not able to understand many of his lines when it was time for him to "act". Words that were so familiar to him were lost in delivery. He didn't seem to know WE were hearing them for the first time. The music was great and will fill many a theatre queens CD rack I am certain. Overall it is as appealing as it could possibly be to the mediocrity that fills theatre seats every night of the week. I sadly never caught a plot however. They were there for a photoshoot, this much I know. Other than that, it was not cohesive. I NEVER got the reason why it wasnt a musical about BOY GEOGE or a musical about LEIGH BOWERY. If fleshed out, I feel both stories could have stood on their own. The script was fun, and Leigh's death with video montage was lush and sweeping. I thought I was going to pass out however when after having a great visual moment as Leigh in hospital bed with tubes and machines, George chose to take a curtain call in full "show biz" regalia. We know he is BOY GEORGE, thats why we came to the fucking theatre. I would love to see George O'Dowd face the audiences adoration ( He deserves it) and not the "media machine" that curtsies and blows kisses and CAN'T take a bow for the ridiculous rhinestoned head dress teetering on his head. George has an opportunity to take a big step foward with this project and actually jockey for some legitimate film or other theatre related projects. He underestimates his star power by falling into "BOY GEORGE" when there is a younger, prettier clone selling it right next to him. Boy George is a glamorous, engaging, fiercely talented star. Cut KARMA CHAMELEON as a curtain call, and come out with Euan. We all still will know who the star is. My soap box is buckling underneath me, excuse me please........
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