Review of Naked Boys Singing

I recently had the opportunity to see Naked Boys Singing at ImageOut (the gay and lesbian film festival in Rochester, NY) where the film made its debut as this year’s opening night selection. Robert Schrock, the creator of the original off-Broadway production and co-director of the film, as well as Jaymes Hodges, one of the titular naked boys singing, attended the screening. I’ve never seen the stage production, so going into the screening I had no idea what to expect, although I figured there’d be some singing and probably a bit of nudity.

Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: Yes, the naked boys referenced in the title of the film are indeed sans clothes for the duration of the film’s running time (there’s more male genitalia in this film than most porn movies), but this isn’t some sleazy skin flick. In fact, despite the occasional raunchy lyric, Naked Boys Singing is surprisingly sweet and the tone is more playful than lascivious. After a few numbers, I barely even noticed the nudity.

What was harder to ignore was the distractingly amateurish filmmaking, which is probably at least partly responsible for shifting my gaze from all those flapping penises.

The movie is basically a filmed version of the show as it was performed on stage, complete with live audience. Though the musical numbers are newly arranged, the presentation here feels as though the director simply plopped down a camera and filmed a performance that was already in progress.

To make up for the lack of invention in its staging, the filmmakers attempt to liven things up with a bit of “movie magic,” as Schrock described it during the question and answer session which followed the film.

This “movie magic” seemingly consists of every trick in the iMovie book, including slow motion and a plethora of digital video filter effects. These effects (and the fact that every number is edited to within an inch if its life) do little besides distract from the performers’ singing and give the entire production an extra coating of cheese it doesn’t need.

That Naked Boys Singing ends up being as entertaining as it is, is due in no small part to the strength of the songs themselves and the talent of its cast. I was shocked to learn that none of the men appearing in the film had ever appeared in a production of the show and that an entirely new cast was hired for the film production. They acquit themselves admirably, and I give them all the credit in the world for even being able to carry a tune knowing all the while that the audience is checking out their wobbly bits.

The songs in Naked Boys Singing are presented in revue style, with no overarching story to hang them on, giving the audience the impression of attending a burlesque show. There is no teasing here, however; we’re treated to the full monty right out of the gate.

As each number begins, the song title appears on screen as the camera pans over the sheet music. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting much from the music, thinking that the show existed mostly to allow the audience to ogle, so I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed the songs. They’re catchy, witty, and frequently quite funny.

The tone of the production is set almost immediately, with the opening number entitled “Gratuitous Nudity. ” The cast of ten attractive young men bound onstage naked, albeit with their hands protecting their modesty, serenading the audience with lyrics like “Tonight there's an atmosphere where it's alright to stare/Tonight you won't wonder what's under our underwear.”

And with that, the hands are raised, and the ogling begins.

Another thing that surprised me was the blatant gay slant to the songs. Granted, I know that there’s not much that’s gayer than nude men singing show tunes, but I figured that the creators would have wanted to appeal to the broadest audience possible. After all, aren’t naked men something everyone can enjoy? But throughout the show it’s evident through the lyrics and performances that this is a show by and for gay men. And if straight audiences like it? Well that’s just a bonus.

Putting aside my issues with the technical side of the film, there’s much to enjoy about Naked Boys Singing. There are some great numbers in the show, with my own personal favorites being “The Naked Maid,” about a man who cleans houses in the buff, and its standout performance from cast member Kevin Stea (obviously a professionally trained dancer); “The Bliss of a Bris,” performed by the dreamy Joe Souza, which takes the religious ritual and turns it into an ode to society’s fear of male genitalia; and “Fight The Urge,” which takes the audience inside a high school locker room to examine a struggle most gay men know all too well: to keep from becoming too obviously… er, excited, amidst all the naked flesh on display.

And, while I give the creators credit for attempting to add some meat to the show (no pun intended) by throwing in some serious numbers, they tend to clash with the light, bawdy tone of the rest of the show.

Songs like “Kris, Look What You’ve Missed,” which tackles AIDS, as a man (Jaymes Hodges, in a great, heartfelt performance) addresses his deceased lover to fill him in on everything that’s happened since his death, and “Window to Window,” a quiet number about a love connection made through voyeurism (which even garners a reprise), are decent songs on their own, but don’t quite work in the context of the show.

Still, taken for what it is, Naked Boys Singing would make for an enjoyable rental on a lazy Saturday night. Despite its somewhat amateurish presentation, if you’re able to look past the lousy editing and effects, the show itself is great fun. The songs are memorable, the singing is often fantastic, and the performers, are, well, hot and naked. What’s not to enjoy?

Naked Boys Singing will be out on DVD from TLA Releasing on December 4.