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Taboo -The Boy George
Musical - Tour.
Music and Lyrics - Boy George.
Book - Mark Davies.
More production credits - Here
Company - Fiery Angel, The Lowry & Clear Channel Entertainment
in Association with Adam Kenwright.
Cast - here .
2003 Tour Dates and Times - here .
Seen to review at Kings Theatre, Glasgow on 27 Jan 2004.
Reviewer - Jay Dee.
Excessively entertaining, like its characters.
As I was born in 1976 I was just a little too young to have been caught
up in the glamour and flamboyance of the new romantics - sadly I also
have to admit that the first pop idols I remember worshipping were more
in the vein of Jon Bon Jovi and the lead singer of Europe - but the image
of Boy George in all his Culture Club glory certainly found its way on
to the popular culture chronology of my life. Awareness, however, does
not make you a fan and it was with huge amounts of trepidation that I
approached Taboo - The Boy George Musical, currently touring the
country and playing this week at the King's.
At first my worst fears seemed to have been realised as the opening scenes
clunkily aped Blood Brothers and the script was interspersed with some
very cheap gags. Also what may have been taboo in early Thatcherite Britain
is much less shocking in the post Queer as Folk, Graham Norton age. But
the joy of this show is that it does rise above the cliché and
manages to draw the audience into its world of outrageous clubs and outrageous
people.
Although the show has some cracking tunes and a plot that develops in
strength and depth as it moves along, what is beguiling here are some
truly fabulous characters. Stephen Ashfield deserves note for his
portrayal of the titular character - uncannily recreating both his voice
and his physicality. Drew Jaymson, as gay grand dame Philip Sallon
is both warm and welcoming. But it is Mark Little’s Leigh
Bowery who absolutely steals the show. Arrayed in a truly fantastical
variety of costumes (designed by Mike Nicholls), he could easily have
been swamped and disappeared in a sea of frills and fusses. But his larger
than life persona more than matches his flair for fashion.
In the end Taboo is a melting pot of musical styles. With strong
flavours of Blood Brothers and more than a dash of Rent it successfully
cooks up a show that is excessively entertaining, like its signature characters.
© Jay Dee 27 January 2004. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Editors note - Julian Clary will be in the role of Leigh Bowery 12 April
till 5 June instead of Mark Little.
Cast and Band -
Cast - Philip Sallon - Drew Jaymson, Billy - Declan Bennett, Derek / Petal
- Steven Osborne, Josie - Jaqcui Rae, Kim - Ashleigh Gray, Boy George
-Stephen Ashfield, Steve Strange - Gareth Heesom, Big Sue - Emma Bispham,
Leigh Bowery - Mark Little, Marilyn - James Gillan, Janey - Michelle Hooper,
Virus - Rebecca McKinnis, Foxy - Jody Butterworth, Sister - James Templeton,
Policeman - Robert Shelly, Guru Dazzle - Jason Packett and Trilby –
Ben Draper.
The Band - Musical Director / Keyboard - Dean Austin, Guitar - Ben Castle,
Bass Guitar - Justin Homewood, Drums - Carl Taylor,
2004 Tour Details of Taboo in Scotland.
Scottish dates
27 – 31 Jan 2004 in Glasgow Kings Theatre.www.kings-glasgow.co.uk
0141 240 1111
27 - 29 Jan at 7:30pm.
30 Jan at 5pm & 7:30pm.
31 Jan at 2:30pm & 7:30pm.
and
1 - 6 March at 8pm and Sat Mat at 4pm. at Edinburgh Festival Theatre
0131 529 6000 ww.eft.co.uk
other dates in UK
3 February - 7 February Birmingham Hippodrome
16th February - 21st February Theatre Royal, Nottingham
24th February - 28th February Southampton, Mayflower
1st March - 6th March Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
8th March - 13th March Civic Theatre, Darlington
15th March - 20th March Grand Theatre, Leeds
22nd March - 27th March Bristol Hippodrome
29th March - 3rd April New Theatre, Oxford
5th April - 10th April Derngate Theatre, Northampton
12th April - 17th April Theatre Royal, Brighton
19th April - 24th April New Theatre, Cardiff
26th April - 1st May Theatre Royal, Plymouth
3rd May - 8th May Opera House, Jersey
10th May - 15th May Theatre Royal, Bath
17th May - 22nd May Wimbledon Theatre, London
24th May - 29th May Theatre Royal, Norwich
31st May - 5th June Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
14th June - 19th June De Montfort Hall, Leicester
21st June - 26th June Theatre Royal, Newcastle
28th June - 3rd July Cliffs Pavillion, Southend
5th July - 10 July Empire Theatre, Liverpool
12th July - 17th July Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
19th July - 24th July Churchill Theatre, Bromley
More production credits - Director - Christopher
Renshaw.
Tour Director - Christian Durham,
Resident Director & Musical Numbers Restaged by Michelle Hooper.
Musical Director – Dean Austin.
Musical Arrangements – Kevan Frost.
Vocal Arrangements – Martin Lowe.
Music Co-Writers – Kevan Frost, John Themis & Richie Stevens.
Set Design – Tim Goodchild.
Tour Set Design – Tim McQuillen-Wright.
Costume Design – Mike Nicholls.
Hair & Make-Up Design – Christine Bateman.
Lighting Design – Chris Ellis.
Sound Design – Jem Kitchen.
Fight Director – Kevin McCrory.
Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is
thelma@edinburghguide.com
Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the
information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted
for any errors or omissions.
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