The Boys In the Band

I can remember when  the film The Boys In The Band was released in 1970 after the play had a successful run of 1000 performances in New York. My father liked it as an interesting depiction of diverse gays – my parents were always tolerant of homosexuals which was unusual for middle class conservatives in the sixties and seventies – but a forever resting actor that cleaned for us considered it formulaic. There has always been a controversy whether it assisted gay tolerance as the underlying message is that gays are sad – “Show me a happy homosexual and will show you a gay corpse” remarks one character.

I liked the William Friedkin (The Exorcist and The French Connection) film as it engaged a world which I scarcely knew let alone encountered, let alone participated. So I was curious to see what I would think of a dramatisation of the play at the Theatre Royal yesterday. The play is about a party given by Michael (Ian Hillard) for Harold (Mark Catiss) set in an apartment in the Upper East Side. Before Michael arrives Alan,  a straight college friend, turns up suddenly. He has important news to relate, possibly the break up of his marriage. The guests include a highly camp interior designer Emory (James Holmes). Emory’s present for Harold is a cowboy (Jack Derges) who turns up with a naked torso, jeans and leather boots. One interesting feature is that Mark Catiss’ real-life partner is Ian Hlllard. The party disintegrates in the style of Abigail’s Party  but not as humorously. Alan takes a visceral dislike to Emory and strikes him. The denouement is a truth game where you have to call the one person you really love.

I can understand why the gay community at the time and afterwards did not take to the play. It certainly was not homophobic but it portrayed gays stereotypically and the group could scarcely be described as contented. Brighton with its gay populace might take to it. I know a gay couple who promoted the play in the West End. I like the matinee performance which is normally full perhaps because of cheaper prices but this time it was at best half full.

At the Rust we try to describe the whole experience, whether a restaurant or football match, so I would like to refer to an aspect of theatre-going I do not rate: the programme. It cost £4 – twice the price of a meaty newspaper and more than most magazines. More than half were adverts and there was only one feature, a history of gay theatre. Could not have Mark Catiss given an interview?  I would have appreciated more on closet gay playwrights Terence Ratigan, who lived in Brighton, Noel Coward and more-out ones like Joe Orton. There is no longer the censorship of Lord Chamberlain, abolished in 1968, and our leading actor Sir Ian McKellen campaigns for gay rights.

The Boys in the Band is now therefore a period piece. It was well-acted, particularly Mark Catiss capturing a difficult accent, New York gay, accurately but dated and not a good enough play like The Killing of Sister George to carry this.