Gay history repeating

The Seymour Centre will recount the chilling true story of the legendary gay duo who committed one of the most infamous crimes of the 20th century.

Under the direction of Jay James-Moody, Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story is the award-winning off-Broadway musical exposing how two wealthy teens murdered a young boy for nothing but the experience.

“They were the first high profile criminals who had a gay relationship with each other, which was very provocative for the day,” James-Moody said.

“The production is by and large about the obsessive, co-dependent relationship of the two boys, with crime quite peripheral in this particular piece.”

Opening on Wednesday, February 24, it’s the first time the play has been staged in Sydney.

The show is built around an elderly Nathan Leopold’s (played by Benjamin Giraud) parole hearing with flashbacks to 1924 as he described the chain of events that led him to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“It’s unusual in the sense that there is live underscoring throughout almost the entire show, and also there are no applause breaks at the end of the songs. They flow seamlessly from dialogue into singing with the only opportunity afforded to the audience to applaud at the very conclusion,” James-Moody said.

“Richard Loeb (played by Blake Erickson) is seemingly the mastermind of the operation. He’s popular and extremely charming and has the impressionable, nervous Nathan under his spell.

“They seal their fates when they create a blood contract that Richard will satisfy Nathan’s sexual desires if Nathan assists Richard with his crimes, and it’s an offer neither of them can refuse.”

Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story is produced by new theatre group Squabbalogic.

info: Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story opens on Wednesday, February 24, at the Seymour Centre and will play until Saturday, March 6. Bookings on 9351 7940 or visit www.seymourcentre.com