Did anyone see TABOO?

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 6/1/23 at 2:37pm

Was this show given a fair shake?  Was it any good?

Would it have been more successful today, considering pop artist bio-musicals have become (too) commonplace?

Watching Show Business: The Road to Broadway was interesting.  All those reactionary critics in a circle trying to out-do each other with outrage that a pop artist would dare bring their own bio-musical to Broadway.  "He thinks it's his Funny Girl!" brays one particularly sour puss.

I love the OBCR.  Opinions?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 6/1/23 at 2:53pm

I thought it was very captivating, fun and ultimately very moving.

A lot of the songs, though great, don't EXACTLY fit the material comfortably or move the story forward... haha... but given what we've lived through with current jukebox musicals... it's practically Sondheim. 

The book probably needed to do more work deciding whose story was being told and made some smart edits... but it was a fun time. I know there's a reluctance to let it be produced but I think it would make a remarkable "immersive" production where the focus is on the club and the party... rather than a traditional book musical... and I don't think you'd have to alter Busch's book all that much.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/1/23 at 3:04pm

I saw it 2 days after Opening Night and the theatre was packed (even the mezzanine).

Having been one to have followed that whole early 80s London music scene, I was fully aware of Leigh Bowery, Boy George/Culture Club, Club Taboo, Marilyn, etc so I was beyond excited to see this musical.  And I LOVED it. All the millions the show cost were there on that stage and the recreations of Bowery’s fashion designs were mind-blowing.

Now, did this musical belong on Broadway?  Absolutely not. The setting of the musical was way too niche and I feel it would have fared better critically had it been staged Off-Broadway and in an intimate venue, just like the original London incarnation. I was the target audience for the musical whereas the average Broadway musical person would not be. The score was beautiful, but a musical needs more than a great score to work. A proper venue would have sparked any magic the show lacked. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/1/23 at 5:29pm

Saw the show once in London and 8-9 times on Broadway. I found in both cases the book just never measured up to the score. The songs soared, the books were full of melodrama, with very little awe of the time and their settings - everyone was miserable, catty, lovelorn, full of secrets, or all of the above. In both shows, the choreography, casting, and production elements, especially the costumes, were a delight. But sour books anchored them both from reaching their highest heights.

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 6/2/23 at 11:02am

I saw it on Broadway and liked it very much. I agree that the book could have been stronger. The music was very moving and it was very OUT in a way that wasn't usual for Broadway at that time. I thought the production design and costumes were a bit dull, and didn't get close to the clever artistry and urbanity of Leigh Bowery. The staging needed a bit more edge and verve but that was also what was nice about the production, for all its affectation of jadedness there was something homey and gentle about it. 

Updated On: 6/2/23 at 11:02 AM

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 6/2/23 at 11:49am

A really wonderful score. Euan Morton was really spectacular as George, and seeing him duet with the actual George at the end was something I’ll never forget 

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/2/23 at 1:00pm

I saw it back in 2002 in London and I enjoyed it! The theater in London is rather small (400 people capacity) and made it more of an intimate experience.

I know they changed the book a lot before going to Broadway. 

I do think this show fares better off-broadway or if it can get a big star like Neil Patrick Harris to play lead role, it could do well on Broadway. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 6/2/23 at 3:21pm

I wonder if anybody could convince George to give writing a score another go

[ARTc3]

Posted: 6/2/23 at 4:04pm

I saw it 3 times on Broadway. It was brilliant.

[Codeman109]

Posted: 6/3/23 at 11:43pm

Saw it multiple times on Broadway and in London as well. It’s still one of my favorite recordings to listen to. The Broadway cast was amazing. Euan was perfect as Boy George and I am a huge Raul fan so I loved him in this. The songs don’t really move the story along at all but are absolutely gorgeous - every character gets at least one solo song to themself. Such a fun show. 

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 6/4/23 at 1:06pm

I saw the London and UK tour productions several times and loved them. The plot was fairly cliche / predictable, though with the background that much of what occurred was real, even if some of the characters were fictitious. The book felt that it was mostly a vehicle for the brilliant songs - I suspect that if I had seen the 20th anniversary concert in London last year, I would not have missed the full dialogue and staging too much. I have no idea of the Broadway changes improved this at all, but I assume that that version will never be seen again. 
 

I’m still annoyed that the London cast recording really didn’t sound anything like the show did in the theatre as I found the Broadway orchestrations mostly overblown (though really enjoyed the additions to the score).