An exciting night at Billy Elliot

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:06am

Tonight, I returned to Billy Elliot for a third time to take a family member to the show. We had quite a unique Billy Elliot experience and theatre experience in general.

We stopped for pre-show coffee at Dean and Deluca and sat at the coffee bar facing the window and the BE stage door. While people watching, we notice something flying down from the billboard hanging from the onging. People would get startled as this item (which looked like a rat hanging on a fishing line!) fell down from the sign . It continued for at least twenty minutes before a group of kids (included what looked to be a Billy, Michael or two)appeared by the stage door. It was very amusing and the boys got quite a kick out of it. I suppose you have to have SOMETHING to keep you occupied before the show.

The show was wonderful. I felt like the actors spoke more clearly during this show, and I seemed to understand more of the dialogue. Tommy Batchelor was Billy and was quite good. I felt like he was the most well rounded out of the Billys I've seen and seems like the most appropriate age.

Unfortunately, he left the stage after the first part of the London audition (before Electricity), and he was replaced by Trent Kowliak. He was excellent as well, but clearly replacing Billy broke the flow of the show. Hopefully, Tommy is ok because he was a wonderful Billy for the first 2/3 of the show.

In any case, it was an exciting night at the theatre!

[willep]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:21am

Sounds interesting! I saw Tommy as well and thought he was great. I hope he is alright. Did you ask anyone at the stage door or anything what the hanging thing was? haha now I kinda wanna know...

[yankees1253]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 1:40am

Tommy actually did leave right at intermission. Walked by the other night during the show both david's, matthew mindler(small boy), and Brianna f(ballet girl swing) were standing outside looked at me and smiled. didn'want to bother them but found out today that they have a fake rubber type spider on the string from a window and pulling it down. will say hi next time if i see them standing out there. all looked very happy to have fresh air.

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 11:40am

Gosh! This is the 3rd time Tommy has been replaced by Trent mid-show that I am aware of. Trent must be getting used to doing this. Tommy is a great kid with a wonderful sense of humor, also very talented. I hope his problems are just temporary. Trent's contribution to the show cannot be overestimated. Kiril and David may have a bit more acclaim and popularity, but Trent may be the solid rock that held the show together for the first year. Good luck to Tommy when he opens in Chicago. I'll try to be there for his final in Dec. Trent, be ready! Nah, I think Tommy will be fine for that performance.

[Fish2]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 11:59am

Well, we saw Tommy replace Kiril after intermission about a month and a half ago!

It's such a strenuous show, I guess that switching of Billy's mid-show is not all that unusual?

Would love to see Kiril in Act II before he leaves, though . . . any guesses on what show he'll perform this week before Sat night?

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:17pm

Yes, I know about this. Kiril suffered some kind of a back injury. The doctors kept him out of the show for a couple of weeks while the injury healed. But he's back now and fine. Why not go to his final? I think you can still find a single.
Poor Dean McCarthy in London. After 3 months he suffered a shoulder injury during performance that turned out to be severe. He left the show for 3 months to rehabilitate. He aggravated the injury first time back, completed the performance, but never did the show again. However, the company did allow him to lead the anniversary performance finale later on. I believe Tom Holland was hurt doing the flip off the piano and had to drop out for awhile. The trials and tribs of being a Bdwy/West End star at a young age!

[Fish2]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:33pm

Checked at the box office the other night and they said that even the premiums are sold out on 10/3 (not that I could have afforded that anyway!). Have tried the cancellation line a couple of times - guessing correctly that Kiril would be on - and may try one more time this week!!

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:41pm

Broadwaybox.com - 19 tickets available - Maybe you should splurge? Generally only available in pairs, but a couple of singles to be had if you check it out. Kiril is the best and worth it. (Everybody has their favorite Billy)

http://www.broadwaybox.com/shows/billy_elliot_nyc_tickets.aspx

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 10:22pm

Trent was my first Billy, and I was quite happy that he was the mid show replacement if I had to have one. I think Trent is a great actor and tapper.

[Kev]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 12:05am

Kiril and David may have a bit more acclaim and popularity, but Trent may be the solid rock that held the show together for the first year.

I'd say all three original Billys are equally acclaimed and praised. I have yet to see Tommy, but the accolades pour in for him, as well.

That said, I caught Trent today for David Bologna's final, and he was superb. He truly has a great sense of comedic timing and nails both the hard and soft acting moments. His tapping was stellar, as always, and his ballet was darn near flawless.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 1:12pm

I always did love Trent, he is the singer out of all four.
I agree with both of you Kev and HermioneJuliet.

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 3:51pm

I agree that Trent is a good singer. This is how I would rate them, but it's so so close. (Particularly between David and Kiril for dance)

Acting: David A.
Dancing: Kiril
Singing: Trent
Onstage Personality: Tommy

Combine them and you've got the greatest performance of all time. Well, OK...an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

[dreamerjj]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 4:36pm

For me, David has the "cleanest" movements, the tecnique and he always ends the "attittude" perfectly well. I think he's the bst at dancing.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 4:52pm

I don't really think you can compare the acting, they each do it so differently, it's mainly just your preference. I've only seen Kiril and David but Kiril played the role more vulnerable and sensitive where as David played it more angry.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 5:17pm

You think David has the best acting? I think he's just too angry the whole time. For me, Trent and Tommy really had the best acting. Moments of anger, with moments of the right sadness.

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 5:22pm

Yes, I agree with you Wishing. It's a matter of preference. Dreamer, to me Kiril had the cleanest, tightest, neatest moves and the superior classical attitudes and poses during the ballet portions. I felt David conveyed the anger best, while Kiril was more vulnerable and lonely, exactly as you felt, Wishing. Trent was the spunky survivor of the foursome while Tommy found the humor and charm. Just one person's impression, but I saw them each twice. I wonder what Alex will bring to the role. Overall, I gotta take Kiril. Too bad he's the first to go. I saw Travis Yates in London, and he was very good, but not quite as strong an impression in my memory as the US Billys.

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 5:39pm

I"m not saying "the best acting" exactly. I felt David was the most like Jamie Bell in the movie. And I did feel that he seemed to be the Billy most likely to turn bad if he didn't find a way out of the life in which he was trapped. He clearly had issues. I really liked all the boys in the role. I felt Tommy's problem, and also his asset, was that he found so much humor in the role and was so charming, that it was difficult to fathom the deep rooted anger that was supposed to be festering inside him. Still, Tommy made it work and I found the anger more plausible on a second viewing of his work. David and Kiril had the most passion in both acting and singing, Trent perhaps a shade more versatility, and of course at the moment his singing voice is still up there, although I have no problems with a lower key for Billy's songs. Jeepers, I wish all four Billys could stay on.

[Salene]

Posted: 9/28/09 at 7:00pm

But then you wouldn't get to experience new wonderful performances in the role.

[homeimp]

Posted: 9/29/09 at 12:18am

Oh, gosh! But I've already seen these boys 10 times. Kiril's final on Oct. 3 will be the 11th. Now I have to spend more money to see even more wonderful performances by the new Billys? This show is going to end up breaking my bank account. As a fellow Canadian I want to see David's last show. I have a lot of respect for Trent's dedication and his performance and hope he gets the record for most Billy performances. I would go to that if it's publicized. I think he has a good shot at it. As for Tommy, he's a real charmer. I hope they're all there on Nov. 13 and share the role one last time.