'Taboo' at the Brixton Club House

I went to see the revival of 'Taboo' at the Brixton Club House last week and I'm jolly pleased I did - it's just as good as I remember it from ten years ago when I first saw it at The Venue (now the Leicester Square Theatre). It's gaudy, brash, outlandish, full of fun and freaks and some great songs. It's 'Taboo'!

It's always billed as 'The Boy George Musical' and that's what it is, but this version is slightly different to the version that I saw years ago. This is the Broadway version of the play and has some new scenes and songs. The focus is shifted from Boy George and Leigh Bowery to make Billy, an aspiring photographer, the centre of the play along with his relationship with Kim, George and Marilyn. I first noticed the difference when Billy's mum mentioned he knew Kim from the sixth form at school and that he had a grant to go to college. So, he's no longer the teenager running away from home and knowing no-one, he's running to his old girlfriend as a way out. Kim is dressed as a Siouxsie goth-clone rather than the spiky haired punkstress.

It was in the second half that I noticed the bigger differences when Billy gives away photos of George on junk and makes it plain (and loud) that he doesn't want money, this is to help George. And oddly, Billy's dad doesn't beat up Philip Sallon, he's restrained while three blokes do the job and he then runs after them after making sure Philip is all right. He then re-appears covered in blood having been stabbed by the queer bashers and dies a hero. I'm not really sure why that change was made or what it adds.

The biggest change was that George and chums don't go to India at the end of the play when he becomes a Krishna kid. There was a moment of disappointment there since I'd planned to sing along to 'Bow Down Mister' and chant for Poly Styrene (as I'd promised in my blog when she died). Instead there was a happy ending ensemble song that led into an abbreviated 'Karma Chameleon'. 'Bow Down Mister' was played over the speakers as we left, but that's not the same.

Overall verdict? I loved it! The story's changed, a few new songs and scenes but it's still 'Taboo' and it will always have a special place in the pantheon of plays and musicals I've seen over the last ten years.

The cast were excellent and so many of them are young and in their first professional jobs - it'll be interesting to see what happens to them. Many weren't born when the characters they play were faces and stars. Of course, it was a joy to have Paul Baker walk on stage at the start as Philip Sallon, the role he made his own years ago, still irreverent and rude by turns, wearing his outlandish clothes and knowing everyone and everything. It's hard to imagine 'Taboo' without him.

The two key roles of Boy George and Leigh Bowery were played by first-timers Matthew Rowland and Sam Buttery (who was, according to the programme, on 'The Voice'). Both have great presence and great voices but kudos must go to Sam in full Bowery drag appearing from behind the bar as Leigh and later appearing naked to be painted by Lucien Freud. It was a very confident and professional performance and he deserves all the praise he's getting.

I'd also single out Katie Kerr as Big Sue who I saw a few years ago in 'The Little Shop Of Horrors' at the Choccy Factory. She has an excellent voice and actually got my eyes moist singing her excellent version of 'Il Adore' as Leigh dies (off stage). She brought happiness and tragedy to a song she sings as she remembers her friend and love and she deserved the huge applause she got for that song. Well done Katie!

The show is getting universally rave reviews so I strongly advise you to go and see it while you can - it's on until Christmas so there's time but don't leave it too long. The audience is small since it's set in a real nightclub that isn't very big, so tickets are limited. It has a small central stage with two runways off stage and they even make do with performing on the bar and the tables scattered near the stage. That brings something different to it, another atmosphere, a show about nightclub life played out in a real club. I shall see it again!