ANOTHER ROSIE FLOPOLA: Boy George musical savaged in NY

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3270261.stm ^

[Liz]

The Boy George musical Taboo, backed by the former chat show host Rosie O'Donnell, has opened to poor reviews in the US.

The Broadway version, which tells the story of the pop star's life and stars George as performance artist Leigh Bowery, opened on Monday.

The New York Times said the musical was "a disastrously overcrowded tableau of a show".

The Washington Post and The USA Today also slated the production.

The Post described it as "a production with such an acute case of meaning-deprivation that you almost forget what's happening as it's happening".

The American national paper USA Today said the musical was "a delightful experience" but added "that is, if you leave after the first act".

It said the show - about the hedonism in the 80s London club scene - turned into "preachy melodrama in which drug abuse, Aids, gay-bashing and the perils of fame are explored with all the imagination of a TV movie-of-the-week".

'$100-a-seat show'

The play, which opened in London in January 2002, has been funded to the tune of $10m (£6.36m) by O'Donnell, who was recently in court in a civil trial brought by the publishers of her now-defunct magazine Rosie.

She decided to bring the show to New York's Plymouth Theatre after seeing it in London last year.

"Taboo is a legitimate, knock-'em-down, leave-'em-screaming, worth-a-$100-a-seat Broadway show," she said.

The musical, which was penned by George, has been rewritten by US playwright Charles Busch to make it appeal more to US audiences.

Actor Euan Morton, who appeared in the British version, has reprised his role as Boy George for the US run.

[Brett66]

100 dollars to see a Boy George musical? Sheeesh.

[buffyt]

You didn't post his photo. There was a good one on Drudge.

[buffyt]

Boy George isn't still on Drudge but will this do? It is close enough....

[isthisnickcool]

You didn't post his photo. There was a good one on Drudge.

From Drudge:

Boy George has aged! _ BADLY!!!

[facedown]

[Liz]

This one's OK, too. LOL.

[Guillermo]

Yes, this is "normal."

Good thing that those who adore Rosie and her agenda are the ones who write textbooks and make education policy.

[quark]

A hundred bucks to watch a bunch of queens mincing around on a stage? No thanks.

[Guillermo]

I say send them to Saudi Arabia.

[buffyt]

I found one there earlier today but it isn't there now

[buffyt]

ha ha ha good one!

[lelio]

"Taboo is a legitimate, knock-'em-down, leave-'em-screaming, worth-a-$100-a-seat Broadway show," she said.

1 out of 4 ain't bad.

[IronJack]

an acute case of meaning-deprivation that you almost forget what's happening as it's happening".

That's a metaphor for Boy George's whole career!

[kaktuskid]

Why did you pour Hersheys syrup on my head?

[Tacis]

There are no limits to which faggot tastelessness will not go! No normal person ever did as much damage to fairies as another tinkerbell trying to make a buck by making them all look outrageous. Rosie and Boy George were made for each other.

[buffyt]

[Paul Atreides]

It said the show - about the hedonism in the 80s London club scene - turned into "preachy melodrama in which drug abuse, Aids, gay-bashing and the perils of fame are explored with all the imagination of a TV movie-of-the-week".

You know we are in the middle of a cultural shift when critics get tired of the homosexual whine-a-thons.

[Paul Atreides]

Jean-Luc Kerry saw it. However, he is waiting until Howard Dean gives his opinion on the musical, before he comments.

[henbane]

Rosie and Boy George were made for each other

A very queer couple indeed.

A colourful Boy George helped O'Donnell promote the show