It's described on the Vaudeville's website like so:
Mark Gatiss stars in this strictly limited West End transfer of the first major revival of this iconic play in two decades. Razor sharp and packed with wit, The Boys in the Band is fresh, startling and brilliantly entertaining. There’s a party tonight. It’s 1968 and nine men gather in a New York apartment for a birthday celebration. Harold (Mark Gatiss) receives a surprise gift from his friend, Emory (James Holmes), in the form of a beautiful male hustler. Meanwhile, party host Michael (Ian Hallard) gets an unwanted surprise of his own. As the booze is drunk and the dope smoked, the mood swings from hilarity to heartbreak.Written by Mart Crowley in 1968, the play pre-dates the Stonewall riots, but only just, which suggests a mismatch between the frivolous, enclosed space of the party, and the outside world. When party host Michael's (Ian Hallard) square, straight (?) college friend appears, we get a glimpse of the socio-political tensions that simmer beneath the overt bitchiness.
At the play's best, we see a group of characters wrangling with their identities and the role society assigns them. Homophobia and self-loathing are articulated with finesse, and the contrast between the sharp-edged humour and the characters' moments of darker introspection feels both painful and modern.
However, the pacing and occasional dip into caricature mean that the cast really are fighting against a script of variable quality. It felt, to me, as if the play could have been cut down to relieve the awkwardness, and then be run as a 90 minute/one act piece.
Overall, it is not a bad piece of theatre, it is just frustrating to watch because it has the potential to be so much better.
3/5: A great cast carrying an average play.
Vaudeville Theatre
404 Strand
Until 18th February
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