The play and film had long been unseen, and seen as a cliche of early gay stereotypes, but its a fascinating drama by Mart Crowley (still here now) showing how self-loathing some gays were then, before Stonewall and the 1970s gay liberation shook things up. Then of course in the 1980 the Aids spectre arrived ....
There's neurotic Michael who hosts the birthday party for Harold, "a 42 year old pock-marked Jew", his birthday present of the midnight cowboy hustler, then there's uncomplicated nice guy Donald, the screaming queen Emory, coloured guy Bernard, the couple Hank and Larry with their own problems of fidelity, and straight guy Alan who drops in .....
Five of the cast died of Aids-related illnesses: Kenneth Nelson (Michael) aged 63 in 1993, who had a theatre career in London; Frederick Combs (Donald) aged 56 in 1992; Leonard Frey (Harold) aged 49 in 1988 - he was also the tailor in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF; Robert La Tourneaux (cowboy) aged 45 in 1986, and Keith Prentice (Larry) aged 52 in 1992. Cliff Gorman (Emory) had a long career, starting in JUSTINE and LENNY on stage (but lost the film to bigger name Dustin Hoffman) died aged 65 in 2002 of leukaemia. Reuben Green (Bernard) seems to have vanished, while Laurence Luckinbill (Hank) and Peter Green (Alan) are both still here and are interviewed on the 2008 German dvd I got of the film, where director Friedkin enthusases about the cast and the film, as does writer Mart Crowley.
Its fascinating to see it again as originally staged and made cinematic by Friedkin, as the cast use all those props and the food and lots of drink. Its as savage as Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (also having a London revival at the moment), and it remains a great play, capturing a decisive moment in gay evolution.
Like so many of us I loved both the original play and this film version when it came out but over the years I found it very unpleasant. I know how we love to bitch and snap at each other but in moderation. I certainly wouldn't want to spend time with any of these guys. It's very well acted and directed and written but it's not very nice.
ReplyDeleteYou really have no interest in the people do you, its very obvious from your pithy comments and facebook stuff.
DeleteTake a bitch slap, ya aul Kerry Queen....oh sorry, is that too "Boys in the Band" for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe post was about the original cast of the play, but obviously they are of no interest to you. Just sayin'.
DeleteDahling, told you I was trawling through my vinyl collection at the moment and discovered I have the entire play on a double album with the original cast. Wonder if it's worth anything.
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