The TABOO topic

Bravo to Mommy and Daddy for doing their part to illuminate the life of such a mega talent as Leigh. Sadly I am afraid, the Broadway show will really miss the mark. From a theatrical point of view, I really can't imagine Rosie O'Donnell OR Boy George being able to harness any of the excitement that Leigh posessed in his performances and irreverent contribution to style. I also don't think middle America who buy the majority of tickets on Broadway could sit thru a true portrayal of L.B's time on Earth. I am afraid this show will merely be a chance for Boy George to have a chance to fill a pair of pumps onstage he could NEVER do in reality. Leigh Bowery was a true artist. Boy George is a pop star. I adore George. I just wished they would have gotten a real actor and not some waterd down imitation. Oh wow, the saddle on this "HIGH HORSE" is uncomfortable.

That's what you are.
And speaking of "Screaming Queens"...
Miss Understood will be doing these GENIUS "human snack tables" for the party as well. Walking, talking (screaming) human tables that will most likely frighten the guests and leave more food for us.
Right on Missy U.


And Sweetie,
Giddy-up Gurl!
Ouch!
You aren't alone in your opinion though. I hear it everywhere. I think it's going to be a bumpy ride.
(meet me you know where)

I think we should see it before saying. Also remember that a book, a play, or especially a MUSICAL are ALWAYS a fiction. How can anyone's life be captured in two hours? Also, life doesn't it the formula of an entertainment vehicle. I don't even think the thickest 800 page bio is ever "true". I read 3 bios on Dietrich and they were very different from eachother.

While yes, George is pop star, he's not your average pop star. He's one of us that made it. He's always been a bit of a rebel in that business. He also knew Leigh quite well. It's not like some clueless writer who decided to "research" Leigh bowery and write a show. From what I hear there are a few authentic clubsters involved in the costuming, hair design, etc. Perfidia has been raving about the gorgeous hairdos on the extras that are based upon icons such as Steve Strange and Sue Catwoman.

I have high hopes but I won't have an opinion until I see it. I'm going the evening before the party. It must be viewed as an interpretive fiction. Do you REALLY think Gypsy captured Gypsy Rose Lee's life 100% accurately?

Well, Miss U, I too will be there that same night, and I reserve my opinion until it has been seen. This show is different from the London version as it has gone from a 300 seat theatre to a 1000 seat theatre, and more dramatically, has been rewritten and reworked for the American stage. We shall see, but I will admit that I am excited and cannot wait to see it!

A pal of mine - Julian Clary - appeared in the UK version.... it seems that they were bringing out all sorts of tacky daytime tv personalities to appear in the show - which really put me off the whole thing (what next Kelly Ripa as Leigh Bowery!).... Am interested to see it, but not rushing... but wonder how spot-on it can be as the subject matter is SO not mainstream tourist B'way fodder.... and Leigh was so challenging. (In a good way - but not in a mainstream way - y'dig?).

I hope for everyones sake that Taboo is a hit. I just know from its beginning in the states there have been too many fingers in the pot, and it has all the makings of a big fat flop. They are trying to re-work a show that failed miserably in London. Although I believe Charles Busch has great skills as a writer, I really believe Leigh's life was so "special" for lack of a better word. He totally bucked convention and the mainstream. Its just a little ironic that his life IS being neatly packaged in a 2 hour MUSICAL. Maybe Charles has found a take on the story that will be more fleshed out and human. I am concerned with the biggest factor in the puzzle and that is TICKET SALES. They are building this up as a BOY GEORGE vehicle. Look at the billboard right here in Times Square. It appears at first glace to be pushing a CD or a concert. BOY GEORGE in all of his BOY GEORGEishness is no type of representation of Leigh. That comes from the discomfort the publicity people had in pushing the images that Leigh created for the masses to try and latch onto to sell tickets. Its a very hard show to manipulate for mass appeal. Broadway shows need mass appeal to survive. Not even 10,000 die hard Boy George fans can save a turkey kids. Maybe I will eat my words................but I say GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!

So do you mean you think it's bad or that it's not mainstream?

Hey there was a hit play about a guy that fucked a goat so who knows!?

An astonishing writer like Mr. Albee is capeable of making a hit out of a story of a man fucking a goat. He is one of our best contemporary playwrites. Lets hope Ms. Busch has lent some humanity to the Taboo project. One of the biggest complaints about the London production is that it lacked any kind of emotional life. You didnt want to love the characters. I believe Leigh Bowery's story should be told. It's important to our culture like so many gifted artists that paved the way for freaks everywhere. Leigh had a profound effect on art and style and performance. I am extremely skeptical that the likes of Rosie O'Donnell or even George can pull this off.

This is a slightly dated entry from my blog but it applies here:
Rosie's Big Taboo

I was never a big fan of Rosie O'Donnell. While I like the idea of the "real" girl next door image, I always felt Roseanne pulled that off in a much more accurate fashion.. at least for a few years. Rosie's just reminded me of the overbearing theater students I remember from college. They would consistently exhibit their dire need for attention, yet never provide you with any good reason to pay it to them. While I did like the fact that she was sort of (kinda sorta) a leftie, I found it difficult to accept a raging lesbian who spoke out about gun control yet was silent about gay rights.

Then the big coming out happened. Even that didn't initially impress me. Rosie made it clear that she was coming out only to serve the interest of children, not for any sort of gay rights agenda. if you weren't paying attention at the time, she was speaking out about a Florida case in which some gay foster parents were being denied the right to adopt a child they had raised.

But then, little by little, this Rosie thing became more interesting. She started being less "nice," a label she had been given during her talk show reign, and becoming more outspoken and opinionated. She expressed disgust for Michael Jackson, got a dykey haircut, and started using foul language in public. Now who does she remind me of? The REAL girl next door! And everybody is dumping on her for it.

Rosie is producing he Broadway production of Taboo, London's hit musical about the 80's/90's alternative club scene written by Boy George, who is portraying the infamous performance artist Leigh Bowery. This is a HUUUGE step for Rosie, who was always know for her ties to "family" projects such as "Seusical". Taboo is far from family entertainment. In fact, it may be the most subcultural thing to hit the Broadway stage in decades.

Page Six in the New York Post went off on her earlier this week. They are basically painting her as a crazed lesbian bent on offending the world. They made it sound like the billboard for the show is desecrating the otherwise pristine Times Square! The image is a paining of Leigh in gorgeous freak makeup standing in a men's room. Behind him is the back of a man at a urinal. Big deal. Times square is full of giant underwear ads! The Taboo poster is a refreshing bit of art in an ocean of mediocrity.

There was a phase, let's say between 17 and 25, when I and many of my peers found ourselves and hooked up with like minded people. I mean this in terms of:
A) Coming out and exploring the ins and outs of gay culture and identity and
B) Discovering and experiencing alternative culture, going to clubs, getting into non-mainstream bands, etc.

Rosie's going through that phase now. I think she spent so much time in a more mainstream culture pursuing her standup and acting, and later her TV career, that she never really found the time to let loose and explore. I doubt she knew who Leigh Bowery WAS before she saw Taboo in London.
My friend John thinks she's just a hypocrite. She made a lot of money while pretending to be something she's not and now she expects us to respect her. I can't completely argue with him, he's right. But hey, who wouldn't tone it down to have a TV show and make millions. It's awfully tempting.

What I have to commend her for is being able to say "Enough already!" How many people who have achieved such mainstream fame ever just jump off the carousel to follow their heart? Why does Donald Trump continue building? He could give away 75% of his money and not feel it one bit. How much can a person spend in pursuit of happiness? Why doesn't he spend the rest of his life building free hospitals in Africa? Madonna likes to speak out against materialism but when will she stop practicing it? I have rarely seen a celebrity or a prominent wealthy person every make a real sacrifice. I think Rosie made a big one. She said "Hey, I have more money than I'll ever need, so why don't I just stop kissing everyone's ass all day and just do my thing!" Or maybe it wasn't so big. Maybe her way of living before was becoming so painful that she HAD to stop. Maybe other celebrities in her position who don't stop just become drug addicts or Scientologists as a way of coping.
My point, if I have one, is that media in America is all about phoniness. Any attempt at being yourself is criticized. Remember all the hubbub about Roseanne screeching out the national Anthem at some sports event? Big deal. If your kooky aunt did it you'd laugh and think it was cute.

Anyway, I can't wait to see Taboo!!!!

Miss Understood's Blog

[This message was edited by Miss Understood on 11-03-03 at 11:32 AM.]

An interesting take on Rosie. I give her huge credit for attempting to bring the story of Leigh Bowery to light, that is major. Okay, so I can see a different angle on her.

But she's still repellent.

I wont say too much and spoil it! lucky to catch the show (in previews tonight)...MANY spectacular, suprising moments - breathtaking visuals and funny lines - a solid story with a strong through-line of action. I love that it is built around George and Leigh so artfully - and with heart!

Loose in that new "previews" kind of way - but I didnt mind. Despite George's songs, my mates and I agreed the music was often not "edgy" enough to capture the spirit of the times. There are also more than a few clunky, schmaltzy moments (the cable tv bathrobe number?!) AND the production numbers do not have enough swirly fabric to truely delight the mezzanine level.

We laughed, we cried, we kissed 87.50 goodbye (which for 3 wasnt bad!)

work tickets for this one, however you can.

.

*

Let me begin by saying that I've never been a fan of Broadway musicals ,not my cup of tea....but....

To me it was disjointed, needed a little editing and some cleaning up, but it is hardly the disaster that the press (Post) is claiming it to be. I enjoyed it, so did the entire audience (it got a standing ovation). It had such great moments in it like when the dancefloor of the club comes rolling out full of new-romantic kids doing those 80's moves I did myself....and that's really what it is...... moments I related to or at least had a nostalga for. I thought of all the clublife I have lived where it has gotten me and why I started going to those temples in the first place. Why those places are so important and necessary. Its far from perfect but it has the potential to be really great. The fact remains that its a kind of miracle it exists at all in this land of overgrown sameness.


I wish the entire production the best of luck and hope that its a huge success.

[This message was edited by glamnerd on 11-06-03 at 12:41 PM.]

[This message was edited by glamnerd on 11-06-03 at 12:49 PM.]

quote:

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She said "Hey, I have more money than I'll ever need, so why don't I just stop kissing everyone's ass all day and just do my thing!"

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Miss U., you hit it spot-on. I'm rather enjoying Rosie at the moment. I hadn't been much of a fan, and maybe she does have a few screws loose...but I do worship how the Queen of Nice (that my mom used to watch on TV each morning) suddenly became this sort of MAC truck-- move or get run over. From starting a magazine and putting her infected finger on the cover, to coming out, getting the new 'do, shooting her mouth off, filing lawsuits, and dumping $10 million into a Broadway play about a couple of notorious homos and 80s counterculture...she's pretty major. And she's taking a major risk...she's got money, but she ain't no Trump.

I saw Taboo on Friday. I liked it. Didn't bowl me over, but it was good enough to recommend. The cast is very strong, and there are some astounding numbers. It was surprising, however, to find that it really is "The Boy George Story" -- not a Leigh Bowery play, which is what I thought it'd be. Leigh is not quite peripheral here, but the spotlight is definitely on George. It's a decent and respectable try at bringing a particular slice of life to Broadway. Some parts were over-the-top schmaltz that seemed gratuitous and designed to pander to the tourists from Iowa. If Rosie's gonna make anything on this though, maybe that's necessary?? Sweetie: yes, ticket sales! Will there be enough interest in this to keep it afloat? I sure hope so. Even in this post- post-Ellen age, I just don't see this having the mass appeal that it will need to fill all those seats every night.

Without giving away the story, we do see plenty of GAY in this production and it's hard to believe that what you're watching is in a Broadway theatre. It was a sold-out house, but at intermission I wondered if there would be empty seats for the second half...we had after all just seen a man kiss another man--and in bed together! But no, everyone filed right back in for the rest of the show, and also gave a standing ovation at the end.

I say three cheers for George. And Rosie. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of her mag lawsuit imbroglio goes...her testimoney last week was a hoot.

...and yes, lying DOES cause cancer. As well as SARS.

I truly bow down to your photoshop skills!
Brilliant!

There is always some sort of compromise when doing something creative. We have to keep that in mind.
(I mean tonight we are producing "The Pop Art Ball" at The Guggenheim Museum and it will be gorgeous. Period Pop brilliantly executed by The Jackie Factory, styled by Kitty Boots but...
at 10:30 an ABBA cover band will play a 20 minute set.
An ABBA cover band!!!!
Of course any idiot knows that ABBA was not 1960's Mod but the CEO of Hugo Boss, the sponsor, saw "Mama Mia" on Broadway and loved it.
Well, he's paying.
ABBA cover band it is.)
So hopefully this show will be good and make money. A hard thing to do.
I think "Hairspray" did it. John Waters told me he really liked the B'way version of his movie. So it can be done.

[This message was edited by daddy on 11-13-03 at 04:45 AM.]

I actually didn't mind this scene either,I thought it was sort of funny. Sad/funny. It reminded me of someone I shall not name..

I did however get a little grossed out with the baby picture of Leigh....it was too much. The video montage was beautiful (you know me and video projections) but the baby pict at the end was so....well, forced, yuck.

It wish the Atlanta set had the same gusto and lush creativity you guys all have! I sawy Boy George on the View and he was delightful! From what I have read about Leigh Bowery and the photos I have seen, I feel I truly missed something wild and wonderful for never having seen any of his performances.

Also, love and hello to Chi Chi, Hattie, Bella Donna, Jade, Lizzie Davis, Billy O., Sweetie, and all the other legends of Stevie-realness! You may not remember me, but my 2 trips to your great city have been true highlights in my life... And I will never forget those "nights"!

Your Dove of Doves... Prel!