It may be over 40 years since Matt Crowley's ground breaking play "Boy's In The Band" first opened at New York's Theatre Four, but it's age doesn't dilute this vibrant tale of gay life, according to New York bloggers and critics as The Transport Theatre Group brings the production back to life.
Good reviews and close up action are captivating audiences in this new off Broadway version of the equally loved and loathed play, a snapshot of gay life, gay society and personality. "Boy's In The Band" is, in it's basic form a play about a group of gay men coming together for a birthday party. However, look beyond and it's a detailed and intricate investigation of human personality, interaction and indeed society as a whole in the gay world of that time, a time before Stonewall, before equal rights, before a great deal that we take for granted these days..
The action all takes place in one location, a lounge and the cast of 9 show of their different personalities, some warming, some self loathing, some aggressive, some happy and each transfer through all these different emotions and mind states. It's gritty, powerful and moving, the new production is being performed in a Loft in New York, with the audience just inches from the action apparently - much to the enjoyment of the small audience, whom, according to reports feel they are actually at a party.
I've never seen "Boys In The Band" live, however the 70's film version was one of the first gay movies I ever say as a youngster in the early 80's. At first, I was disgusted by the self loathing, self hating group of 'older' gays that I saw on screen. They were far removed from the gay life I wanted and could see ahead for myself. But, I was young back then, very young, from a different country, different time and perhaps from a different world! I think I probably lived in a naive little bubble back then. Now however, the time is almost certainly right to revisit the play, the text, the film, for some it will be a recollection of gay life 60's and 70's style, for others it will be a fresh look in to the past, whilst for others it will just be good entertainment.
As for me, looking again at the film, I see more of myself there than I ever did, or ever thought I could when I was a younger viewer. Past, present and future all in one room!
More on "Boys In The Band" from New York Daily News.
Jason Shaw, Brighton, England
GayAgenda.com's UK correspondent
Jason's blog, The Seafront Diaries, one man's conquest against growing into bitter twisted grumpy old man!
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