Anyone think Billy Elliot won't be as big on Broadway?- Page 2

[algy]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 6:36am

"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."

I've seen the UK tour *kicking herself she never made it to the London show* which is based on the US tour with the 3D movies. Mikael Rand was the best thing about it - skated rinks round the others Imho. According to Belles Domain (the Best St-Ex sight I know of) it closed in London in 2001. (source =http://www.bellesdomain.co.uk/ )

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 8:41am

Starlight Express in closed in London on 12th January 2002. For a show that relies on spectacle for any kind of impact, the downsized tour with the races on 3D screens just doesn't measure up.

As for Billy Elliot - I do think that it'll lose something in the transfer. I agree that the score really is the weakest part of the show (but I can't think of one Elton score I'd want to pay to listen to again), and the domestic political struggle has become a larger part of the story. I found this much more interesting, but will it fly with the tourists - they're the ones who will keep the show running for longer than six months...
Updated On: 5/17/06 at 08:41 AM

[Harpo]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 9:11am

I agree that it may lose something in the transfer, but I think the music, dancing and theme of pursuing a dream will resonate. I actually loved many of the songs and the scene with young and older Billy dancing stayed with me for quite a while.

The political struggle was the most interesting part of the show for me. I wonder though, if people will respond to and appreciate that part of the story, and songs like Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher.

Let me add that I am glad the program gave definitions of some of the words, otherwise I would have not understood some of the dialogue.

[directorkid]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 9:19am

i saw "billy elliot" in london. one, i understood every word. two, i think it will be a hit because when it comes down to it, it is a phenominal show! the story is incredible and the movie was well recieved, why should the show be any different? it is by far the best british musical i have ever seen and have no doubt that it will be well recieved in america. the biggest issue with an american production that i can think of will be finding boys who can play billy as well as Liam Mower and maintain the accent

[Harpo]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 9:23am

director kid- good for you. But I will tell you, I did not understand howay, and deeyun, divant, bairn and awa, etc. In context you can assume what they mean, but it helped me to have the translation!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 9:55am

I personally did not fully appreciate it. It's VERY British and relies a lot on England's history, something we don't know as much about.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 10:42am

Blood Brothers is still running at the Phoenix in the West End.

Due to the success of the film and the cuteness of the title character, the musical may do well in the US. As long as people can understand the dialogue and do not mind a mostly forgettable score, but that may be a lot to ask of typical American tourists.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 10:53am

I just dont see how it relies on an intricate knowledge of British political history of the recent decades. Yes that certainly helps esp if you lived through that era or the impact had an effect on your own youth.

But....

The opening video projection sets up all you really need to know quite well I thought. That and the opening song "The Stars Look Down" really set the scene for the political backdrop.

As for the song "Merry Xmas Maggie Thatcher"... well she is the one that they are fighting against in the strike. Perhaps I am too close to the material and cant see how complicated those concepts are....

Do Julius Caesar or Richard III require prior knowledge? Nope. People are underplaying the capacity of an audience to absorb what is presented to them and go with it. Surely the theme of a small community fighting large government power is something that almost everyone can identify with in their own nation's history?????

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 12:17pm

Maggie Thatcher is quite a bit of the jokes in the show. I was sitting in a row of Americans - none who understood the jokes or laughed once. We all thoroughly enjoyed the show in a whole, but a lot of it was missed on us.

The opening projection really doesn't tell ALL that much. The exposition really isn't clearly plotted out and I'm still not ENTIRELY sure what the fight was for. Wages, maybe?

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 3:13pm

The opening narration is a newsreel that sets the scene of a socialised mining industry. I suppose the concept of socialism is alien to most Americans! :-P Not your fault..blame... well you should never have rebelled lol.

Seriously I just assumed that people would know that Margaret Thatcher was the UK Prime Minister in the 1980s and first woman to do the job. She was rather close and prominent to good old Ronnie.

The opening newsreel explains that after the War the mines were to be owned by the public and the mines were to operate them for the good of society. Nationalisation. The Thatcher Government hired an American Businessman to run the National Coal Board and make it "efficient" ie shut down all pits that were uneconomic without regard to the devastation caused to whole communities that depended upon in. The end result was eventual privitisation of the coal industry and a betrayal of the post- War ideals.

I guess that does all sound kinda complicated when I look at it! They were not striking for higher wages but for their very survival. For their entire way of life and community.

Looking at my large A4 glossy programme (£4 or £5 but a bargain compared to most WE theatres!) I can see that there is a two page spread called "CONFRONTATION". It has nice pictures too Oh and in far more accesible language than I used, sets the scene for the play. Not too much effort to spend 2 mins and read 3 blocks of text is it? No? Just cause I have seens TONS of British and non British theatre audiences read their LesMis detailed programme synopsis before and during the performance.

Hope some of that made sense. I have some American friends who did an exchange with my uni last year (and combined with Southern relatives of my mums) which I suppose has led me to assume that because they are all clued up (to a reasonable extent) on the UK and bits of pieces of our dreary past and present that everyone would be. And because I spend a good bit of my life researching US politics and public affairs. Must learn to stop making assumptions! Bad MrKringas! *slaps own wrist*

Updated On: 5/17/06 at 03:13 PM

[ahimsa]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 3:38pm

I have never been to a Broadway show where I heard hearty laughter and audible sobbing throughout the theatre as I did with "Billy". It has a resonating warmth that is hard to come by. The northern English accent would be hard for most to follow, even with the terminology sheet they provide. Mostly, its the "Thatcher" controversy that won't play here. In England, the pro-Thatcher's in the audience were obviously offended, while others loved her getting her due. Here, it would mostly fall flat. We're just not that up on British current events. I found myself questioning several joke lines, but it didn't get in the way of a very moving theatrical experience. It's also a show about the average Joe's and keeping it real.

The night I went, my first act Billy had to be replaced in the second half of the show with one of the other Billy's, so I got two for the price of one. Both were incredible! It's all about the boy!

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 3:47pm

I saw the show last summer and loved it. Of the 100+ Broadway shows I've seen, BE ranks in the top few. It was a wonderful experience and I can't wait for it to come to NY. If people don't know who Margaret Thatcher is, that's just plain sad. The ignorance of the general populace of the U.S. aside, I don't think that it will be a problem. When I saw it, probably half the house was filled with N.A. tourists, Americans and Canadians. Everyone seemed to love it as much as I did. It is such a wonderful story, moving and poignant, difficult and beautiful, fabulous acting and dancing, and is just one of the most uplifting theatre experiences I've ever had. I predict it will be a huge hit. I was right in my prediction that WIW would be a disaster in its transfer, so I hope I'm equally right with my prediction that BE will captivate U.S. audiences.

[ahimsa]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 4:16pm

I think they'll tweak the book and tone down the slang without harming the delicate storyline. The show still affects me. It's haunting that way.

Q: If they again have three Billy's, do you suppose they will award a special Tony for their performances, will they have to compete against each other for a nomination, or will they share the nomination?

PS: I'm thrilled Gavin Lee was named to the Poppins NYC cast.

[leefowler]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 4:25pm

The basic themes of Billy Elliot are universal, and an intimate knowledge of British poitics isn't really neccesary for the enjoyment of this show (Although the opening of act 2 with Thatcher dolls is a little hard for Americans to get very excited about..)

I would be astonished if it was anything less than a smash on Broadway. I don't know ANYONE who works on Broadway that wants their show to open the same year as Billy Elliot!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 5:08pm

Kringas, I appreciate all of that. However, do remember, that I was only born 1986 so don't really remember the Ronnie-Maggie days. A lot of theater-goers these days ARE young, do remember, and really don't know too much about all of that.

However, beyond that aspect, I did sob quite a bit and the show was incredibly beautiful and necessary. However, I do think that there needs to be some trimming and some fixing/futzing to make this a tad more US-accessible.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 2:46am

Oh no!

I'm old!!!!!!!!

Well I got five years on you Ilivtheatretrash so it seems by what you said I am past it )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Kidding. But seriously that made me have a laught at myself. How did you feel about Wedding Singer being so rooted in the 80s then? Is it because most people are more likely to get cultural/pop culture references that political history? ie mainstream tv and film cover the former more than the later for most.

[lifeisacabaret]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:48am

Stephen Daldry is married by the way. He's one of those homos thats 'turned'. Always thought it was bizarre when he got married.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:21am

Well, yes, Americans should recognize the name Margaret Thatcher, and I promise you that there are Americans who inform themselves as well as you apparently do, MrKringas. But either way, even if we're aware of Who She is and Why She is Important, it's still probably not going to be all that funny to an American (particularly one with little UK experience.)

Socialist movements exist to varying degrees of success across the world, even here in America where we spend most of our time eating beer nuts and watching Survivor and the Idol. In a perfect world all Americans would be able to interest themselves in the goings on of another country but a social movement from 20 years ago in the UK is something few Americans would probably care much about. I'm hesitant to say that this is exclusively an American disease though (a lack of interest in foreign goings on). It becomes relevant as we learn about it.

Yeah, ubiquitous popular culture is more pervasive than sociopolitical history, particularly because most events affect certain groups of people more than others whereas everybody in the country saw that BK ad during the Idol. This is probably true of you as well, however well informed you keep yourself.

Was the movie that big a success? I thought it was more of a modest success. Not a big money maker but a movie that managed to get a lot of attention. It could go either way. People will either really get into the show because it's unfamiliar (I know I really enjoy things like that) or be completely alienated by it. While I'm Elton John Writing A Broadway Scorephobic, I'm looking forward to seeing this show sometime.

Anyway, stop with the condescension already. It's annoying.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 6:32am

"Anyway, stop with the condescension already. It's annoying."

I was not deliberately being condescending. I assure you that if I was it would be far more venomous sweetie.

I tried to outlay briefly why I think the thems are universal and not that unknown to people who live in post industrialised societies. If anyone is being condescending its this assumption that Broadway audiences wont get certain things. Just let art speak for itself. If you only produce stuff through a lense of what you believe an audience can handle then you limit yourself and patronise the audience.

Stephen Daldry is no fool and I am sure he will direct this on Broadway the same way he release his film on the US market....unchanged. Its presumptive to even have this discussion.

And yeah I do keep myself informed because events in Washington have a profound impact on Europe and the rest of the world. Also i am guilty of being a politics grad student. So I accept that I am atypical. Believe me when I say I get funny looks from some folk in my theatre company when I go into a rant about politics

Just as some of my fellow students think i am weird for being a complete musical freak. It takes all sorts.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 8:34am

I think it wont be as big as it is in the UK. And ppl wont like it as much. I cant fully understand the accent and I live in the region where this all happens! The story line and the book wont really impress much cuz I heard two American theatregoers say 'I cant understand a single word'. But I am sure the direction, choreography, set (and maybe acting...) will definitely impress you guys!
Saw it 6 times now, and going to see it hopefully 2 more times in 2 wks' time.... STILL not bored! It's one of the best shows in town right now and its worth every pound (dollar) to come over to see it! Try to see Liam/Haydn before they leave! They're amazing!

[leefowler]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 10:22am

I think it's bizarre to say the Billy Elliot won't succeed in the states because the accents are difficult to understand. Would it really be that difficult to soften the accents for Americans?

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 12:55pm

I dont want it to change! I already hated the fact that Mary Poppins is changing, but I think the main selling point for Billy Elliot here is the down-to-earth feeling when u see it, very familiar and to change it, like WiW, seems very bad idea. And I believe that Stephen Daldry is clever enough not to do so.
It is a good enough show now

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 1:32pm

Just got back from London....

Mary Poppins needs to change. I understand why they "didn't want to do the movie" and wanted to use more of the original story, but it just didn't work. They put some of the movie songs in weird places/situations when it would have been even better if they just did it like the movie. I was very let down. The new material isn't very good either.

As for BILLY ELLIOT, it will do great here. I saw it twice last week including the one year anniversary performance. I understood it all...I knew exactly what was going on, and I loved every freakin' second of it. Seeing those three original Billys was one of the highlights of my theater viewing history. I did, however, see it the night before with one Billy and enjoyed the show a lot as well. The story is great, the music is fantastic and the direction is wonderful.

Updated On: 5/18/06 at 01:32 PM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:28pm

Karen Walker (Anastascia_Beaverhausen) you are SO lucky to catch Billy's birthdya performance! I wud die to see it! Who was the other BIlly you saw? And plz do PM me with a review PLEASE?!
As for MP, I loved the Ldn show more than the film. To be honest, always thought the film was only alright (dont kill me). But there is some boring parts like the bank, and Banks family stuff are pretty boring. But havent seen the current cast, but the OLC managed them well! And I loved the new songs, esp 'Temper Temper'. And I like that they make the show more dark and not cartoonish with more depth. I mean, if its just a cartoony show, like a carbon copy of the film, i'd rather buy the film with the diva Julie Andrews in it!

Anyway, back to the main point, do you really think Billy Elliot will be big in the US? I have confidence and I REALY REALY hope they DO NOT change a single thing cuz its freaking amazing and its just perfect. As you can tell, it's my fav. show alongside with Chicago.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:39pm

Honestly, I boubt it will be AS big of a deal here...but I think it will do very well here. It's a great show and American audiences will see that.

Matthew Koon was the other Billy we saw.


Updated On: 5/18/06 at 03:39 PM