It’s that man Ryan Murphy again – producer and occasional director of Hollywood, Glee, Ratched, American Horror Story and more. Only The Boys in the Band, a revival of the seminal 1968 play written by Mart Crowley, is remarkably restrained in comparison to some of Murphy’s more recent fare.
It’s 1968 New York and a tormented Michael (Jim Parsons) is hosting a birthday dinner party for longtime frenemy, Harold (Zachary Quinto). Guests are exclusively gay males. The air of drunken bitchiness early in the evening degenerates into something far worse when Alan (Broadway star Brian Hutchison), former straight college roommate of Michael, turns up unexpectedly.
Wordy, wry, acerbic, astute as long-buried truths bubble to the surface within the claustrophobic confines of a single-set apartment. Renowned stage director Joe Mangello skilfully transfers the 2018 Tony award winning revival (with the same cast) for the small screen. It may be dated but The Boys in the Band remains both engaging and relevant.
Rating: 70%
Director: Joe Mangello (Wicked, Love! Valour! Compassion!)
Writer: Mart Crowley (TV’s Hart to Hart, Remember), Ned Martel (TV’s Glee, American Horror Story)
Main cast: Jim Parsons (Hidden Figures, TV’s The Big Bang Theory), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Margin Call), Matt Bomer (Magic Mike, The Magnificent Seven)
An Opinion or Two 