Anyone think Billy Elliot won't be as big on Broadway?

[Hawker]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:10pm

"Starlight Express" is still running in the U.K. as is "The Woman in Black".

"Blood Brothers' had a great run in the U.K. but was tepidly perceived here.

What are the chances the Billy Elliot is intirinsically a West End phenomenon?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:11pm

Starlight is not on the West End anymore, i don't think.

Woman in Black never come to the US

I think Billy is very british and it def. won't be as huge as it is over there, but it will be a modest hit. i think the producers will be dissapointed.

but it will sell

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:12pm

"Woman in Black never came to the US."

Really? If I'm not mistaken it was done Off-Broadway in the Summer of 2001. It flopped, though.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:15pm

Woman in Black did make it as Piazza said, and not running anymore.

Hard to predict a succesful transfer.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:16pm

*hides*

hehe... so much for me passing off as smart

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:25pm

I think BILLY ELLIOT will do well, at least initially, because of all the hype. But in the end, I doubt it will the hit over here that it is in the UK, partly because it won't be as good. Like FESTEN, it's gonna lack something ineffable, but enormously important.

TT

[Hawker]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:25pm

Re: "Woman in Black' played Off Broadway in 2001 at the Minetta Lane Theater.

By 1991 "Starlight Express" had become the second-longest running in West End history. I think it closed in '94 and as I said "Blood Brothers" ran for a long, long time.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:30pm

Starlight Express was still running at the Apollo Vic at least until 1998. I believe it closed between 1999 and Cats a few years later.

There is an awful UK tour doing the rounds though.

And I do hope Broadway embraces Billy Elliot. I worry that it will lose a certain something in the transfer but believe in the material. British film audiences lap up Holywood films all the time. Occasionally though a foreign language film can be a big hit though and break the mold. Using that analogy I like to think that Billy Elliot will break the mold on Broadway.

My point is underestimate the audience at your peril. Give people something grown up and they may just like it!

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:32pm

there was an awful Starlight Express tour that toured the US a while back.

man was it hideous. no real race scenes. only crappy 3D movies

[Hawker]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:32pm

I've listened to the score and have a real tough time picking up much of the dialogue because of the heavy accent of the kids at times. Some of the slang does not resonate with me either.

Well, maybe it's just something that grabs you visually because there's not much there with the score--and I'm not the first person to suggest this.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:34pm

my main problem is the Elton John score.

i find it a let down to what this musical could've been

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:36pm

The score is the weakest part. It does not stand apart too well. That aside when you are in the theatre it does a good job of servicing the characters and story.

I guess being Scottish I dont have a problem with the slang. However I watch a lot of US TV and films and have no problem following that. A little reciprocity please?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:39pm

the first time i saw Gosford Park i put subtitles on.

i don't have a problem with the accents. I have a probelm with Sir Elton. i was making a mix cd and i wanted to put a BE track on it and as i was looking it occured to me that no one song is good enough to be played out of context.

it really makes me sad

(i put TWO tracks from SWIWS instead )

[Hawker]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 9:50pm

I understood every word of "The Molly McGuires" and "The Commitments". I thought B.E. the film was extrordinary. But this thing so far doesn't even do it for me. "Jerry Springer" sounded far superior musically.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 10:02pm

I couldnt agree with either of you two more about Billy lacking a sparkling score. Its a real shame that Elton got attached to this project. I realise he is American but I do wonder what someone like Andrew Lippa would have come up with. A composer who lives and breathes theatre with a track record would have been preferable. They dont need to be British just use half the same research and skill that Sondheim deployed for Pacific Overtures and I would have been a very happy man!

Its funny you mention subtitles for Gosford Park. As a more RP sounding Scot I follow it all just fine but one of our more famous sitcoms from the 1980/90s had to be subtitled when show in England! It would be like putting subtitles on Fargo for a North East audience
Updated On: 5/15/06 at 10:02 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 10:04pm

Or maybe it will be too good for today's Broadway.

[leefowler]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:15pm

I saw Billy Elliot in London. It will be huuuuuge here. Best show I've seen in years.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:43pm

The movie was great.

Who wouldn't want to see a kid who's gotta dance?

But if you saw the stage play, tell me, does it have the scene at the end where he's grown and about to go onstage playing that satyr from the Wagner opera?

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:47pm

That scene is not how the show ends. However there is an earlier scene that far exceeds what the film achieved with that ending....

lips are sealed!

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 12:25am

Oh, Caroline -- I think we've swapped horror stories about that awful Starlight tour before. Awful, awful, awful.

[Jilani]

Posted: 5/16/06 at 1:11am

But if you saw the stage play, tell me, does it have the scene at the end where he's grown and about to go onstage playing that satyr from the Wagner opera?

I think the final scene of the movie involves the adult Billy about to perform in the Matthew Bourne production of Swan Lake (echoing an earlier scene in the film where his teacher is telling him about the story of Swan Lake).

Back on topic, I enjoyed the show very much in London (though I agree that the score is completely unmemorable), but I have my doubts about its transferability to Broadway. For one thing, wouldn't the cast have to be mostly American? I think most American actors are pretty bad at doing "standard" British accents, let alone specific regional ones.

[Hawker]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 12:22am

I recall reading in "Variety" that there were three potential landmines concerning BE. First, getting the kids over here considering the rules of the school year in the U.K.; second, if American kids were used could they pull off the accent required; and third, would the drama of the miner's strike really resonate with American audiences--particularly in a post 9/11 America?

Those are major issues.


Updated On: 5/17/06 at 12:22 AM

[Golfer804]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 12:59am

I was very much looking forward to "Billy Elliot: the Musical" and was very let down. The movie is a favorite, but the musical--despite having the same director, Stephen Daldry--undercuts many of the emotional high points. If you can't heighten the experience by making it into a musical, leave well enough alone. It is hard not to like a show that celebrates the impending death of Margaret Thatcher, but I was disappointed. I was also offended at the creators (Daldry and Elton John, both gay) increasing the number of "fag" jokes and constantly having to remind us that Billy is straight. It is nevertheless a HUGE hit in London. Given the dearth of good musicals on Broadway (Tarzan? Lestat? Threepenny Opera?), there may be a place for it.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 1:28am

Re. American kids playing the role

We have an American Billy now in London. He is supposed to be terrific in acting, dance and singing and does the accent just fine.

Re. the increase in "fag" jokes

Working class Co Durham in the 80s (or indeed today!) would deal with the notion of a boy being a ballet dancer with this humour. And thats a best case scenario. Worse case is the kid gets beat up in school and then some more. So while I appreciate that it may have seemed a bit much you have to place it in context. Also I dont have a problem with the couple of times Billy makes it clear to Michael that he isnt a "poof". Its there to show that being gay isnt a prerequisite of being a dancer. Thats the stereotype.. or at least it is where I come from and thats not that far removed from Co Durham. If anything the goodbye scene between Billy and Michael emphasises the friendship and deep love between the two. I think they had to put those lines in to make clear that Billy isnt coming out or anything silly like that in the final scene. It would undermine the rest of the show.

Re. not heightening the experience

Angry Dance, Duet with self and Electricity heightened the experience in my book. They dwarfed the film. In my opinion anyway. I have seen the show twice now and been reduced to tears for almost three hours. It really strikes a chord. Also the theatrical device of Dead Mum certainly adds something.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 2:28am

Being from San Diego, everytime I watch Billy Elliot, I use subtitles.