Taboo
Harbouring as I do a weakness
for all things naff and 80s, it was pretty inevitable that I would love Taboo.
This was despite reading adverse reviews - and hearing tepid comments from friends
- of Boy George's decadent musical, which I recently saw on its mammoth UK tour.
But then I have untypical tastes and have never been one to follow the flock.
Boy George's rags-to-riches history is a remarkable one that deserves telling
in flamboyant technicolour. This show is very much his baby, though (bravely,
you could say) does not always show him in the best light.
The partly fictionalised story starts with naive runaway Billy, whose escape
to early-80s London leads him to the squalid squat occupied by George and his
hedonistic clique. Billy tumbles unwittingly into the company of outrageous
Aussie artist Leigh Bowery, guru-ish club owner Philip Sallon, cross-dressing
pop star Marilyn and discerning New Romantic pioneer Steve Strange.
Against this kitschy backdrop, Boy George (as we all know) achieves global success
with the wonderful Culture Club, charms mums with his professions of preferring
tea to sex, quits his shabby surroundings - then narrowly evades death from
heroin overload, and finds subsequent solace in the Hare Krishna movement.
Added to the autobiographical element are rather half-hearted subplots about
Billy's sexual awakening, and his once mousey mum leaving the violent family
home to found an avant garde fashion house with his sort-of girlfriend Kim.
I loved it - possibly because I am more easily pleased than press and friends?
Personally, I don't like to over-analyse. I just adore the escapist, the colourful,
the fun - and I found Taboo all of those things. As musicals should be.
So what, frankly, if the plot is gauze-thin? The Boy-penned score (which includes
Karma Chameleon, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me and Bow Down
Mister plus 20 new numbers) is vivacious (and, in my opinion, underrated),
the dance routines slick and the costumes the very epitome of OTT.
Anyway, perhaps this all-gloss approach could be seen as a metaphor for the
garish and splendid 80s themselves?
And there are some truly tremendous performances...
Ex-Neighbours star Mark Little is an absolute revelation as the camper-than-a-row-of-tents
Leigh Bowery. It's hard to believe he found fame in a lumberjack shirt, playing
macho Joe Mangel, a 24-carat Castlemaine XXXX Australian.
(I understand Julian Clary has since taken over the 'Leigh' role, which should
be interesting.)
Drew Jaymson shines too, in the role of impish, innuendo-gushing Philip Sallon
- as does Stephen Ashfield, who perfectly captures the fey beauty, sound and
mannerisms of Boy George himself.
Ashleigh Gray as the insecure Kim, and Steven Osborne in the dual roles of Billy's
brutal dad and the Les Dawson-esque drag queen Petal, are also noteworthy.
Taboo is a total riot. Go with a broad mind.
© Leigh Rowley, 2004