Closer to Heaven
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Closer to Heaven is a musical by Jonathan Harvey and Pet Shop Boys. It premiered in 2001 at the Arts Theatre in London, UK, where it ran for less than a year. The premier starred Frances Barber, Stacey Roca, and Paul Keating. As of 2004, there have been no other productions of Closer to Heaven.
Some of the musical's tracks were pre-released on the Pet Shop Boys' album Nightlife. Songs from that album include "Closer to Heaven", "In Denial", and "Vampires".
Story
The story is narrated by retired rock icon and actress Billie Trix (Barber), who other than narration has a fairly small part in the story, although she is featured in several songs. The opening number, "My Night", sung by Billie and the rest of the cast, introduces the characters.
Shell Christian (Roca), is going to see her estranged father, Vic Christian, for the first time in years. Vic, who is gay, left Shell and her mother during her childhood, and now runs a successful gay dance club in London. Meanwhile, Straight Dave (Keating), who just arrived from Ireland, is working as a bartender at Vic's club, although his ambition is to be a dancer at the club. After seeing and speaking to her father, Shell meets Dave at her father's club, and they immediately fall in love.
Record producer Saunders, a friend of Billie Trix and a regular at Vic's club, sees Dave dancing and decides he wants to sign him for a boy band. He makes an offer to Dave, who has no interest in selling to the record producer. However, Saunders does not give so easily and continues to pressure Dave into working for him.
Dave falls in love with drug dealer Mile End Lee, who deals at Vic's club, but hides it from Shell. Shell has suspected all along that Dave is gay, and when she learns of his affair with Lee, she is devastated. Meanwhile, Vic discovers Lee dealing drugs in his club and confiscates the drugs. Lee is worried he will be killed for losing the drugs.
At this point, everyone gets high. Shell is still upset about Dave, Lee is worried about being killed, Dave is frustrated that Lee has withdrawn from him, and Billie, a habitual user, needs no excuse. Unfortunately, Lee has a drug overdose and dies. At Lee's funeral, Dave sings a song, "For All of Us".
A few months later, Dave is apparently back on the road to success.