#1
Posted: 10/13/08 at 11:52am
Front mezz, row E, aisle.
Perfect view. Perfect sound. Heard and saw everything with no problem at all.
Billy - Kiril Kulish
Show was stopped twice - once due to a malfunction of the "bedroom" set, and once right at the climax of the Billy ballet (with his older self).
This is a musical with many small pleasures, but the major problem, in my opinion, is that it comes riding into town on the back of so many gushing rave reviews, multiple awards, and deafening hype that there is no possible way anything could ever live up to that. If one goes in expecting some kind of spectacular blockbuster, I think that there will be some level of disappointment. If you go in with no pre-conceived notions, then you will probably find a lot to enjoy, despite the fact that this show is far from perfect.
Despite the fact that Billy Elliot is performed on one of the most hideous sets ever to grace a Broadway stage, it is populated by so many fully-realized characters that you may not notice or care.
Despite the fact that Elton John's score is totally lackluster with song names that prepare you for electricity when the result is more like a power outage, the performances are so supercharged, the choreography so outstanding that you may forgive such lazy songwriting.
On opening your Playbill, you may be struck by the very short song list. For a two-act, nearly three hour musical by one of the most prolific pop composers of our time, you would think there would be a little more...well...music. It is not to be. This is a very book-heavy show, and the book is extremely strong. At points, though, it feels more like a play with music, than a full-fledged musical.
Of the musical numbers, the Billy/Billy ballet and the closing number of Act One are serious showstoppers that will easily become classic. There are other numbers where you might wonder if this Emperor actually has no clothes. I wondered this a few times, particularly in Billy's Act One number with Michael, when they end up dancing with a bunch of giant tap-dancing dresses. Seriously. This "what were they thinking" moment immediately takes you out of the theatre and plops you in a bad theme-park show.
As for the cast, I didn't really find a weak link in the entire ensemble. They are all really fantastic. It goes without saying that Kiril Kulish is phenomenal, and Carol Shelley and Gregory Jbara also both deserve all the kudos that will eventually fly their way. The ensemble features a huge cast of children, and they are all giving wonderful performances. With large childrens' ensembles, there are usually one or two who are giving hammy, mugging performances, but I didn't see any of that here. Every one is just outstanding.
Costumes are appropriate to the setting. Lighting is sharp and moody. Set, as previously stated, is just plain ugly, and..going by the fact that they stopped twice for technical difficulties well into previews....not entirely functional.
As for the show's finale, or lack thereof, I won't spoil any surprises except to say that those hoping for some kind of giant show-stopping grand finale should probably head over to The Lion King or Phantom or something like that, because this show ends with one single, quiet moment, not with a big flashy bang. And, on thinking about it, that is probably appropriate, although at the time, my partner and I both turned to each other and said, "That's it???"
Did I enjoy the show? I enjoyed parts of it very much. As a whole...I was a little disappointed, I must admit. Again, I think it is all about perception. Had I gone in expecting a smaller show, and had I not believed the hype and been expecting the second coming of I don't even know what, I probably would have had a much better time.
As it is, while Billy Elliot may not live up to its impossibly amazing reputation, it is a fairly solid show with a moving storyline, and at the very least, it is refreshing to see something this ambitious on Broadway, instead of the fluff we are usually treated to these days.
Perfect view. Perfect sound. Heard and saw everything with no problem at all.
Billy - Kiril Kulish
Show was stopped twice - once due to a malfunction of the "bedroom" set, and once right at the climax of the Billy ballet (with his older self).
This is a musical with many small pleasures, but the major problem, in my opinion, is that it comes riding into town on the back of so many gushing rave reviews, multiple awards, and deafening hype that there is no possible way anything could ever live up to that. If one goes in expecting some kind of spectacular blockbuster, I think that there will be some level of disappointment. If you go in with no pre-conceived notions, then you will probably find a lot to enjoy, despite the fact that this show is far from perfect.
Despite the fact that Billy Elliot is performed on one of the most hideous sets ever to grace a Broadway stage, it is populated by so many fully-realized characters that you may not notice or care.
Despite the fact that Elton John's score is totally lackluster with song names that prepare you for electricity when the result is more like a power outage, the performances are so supercharged, the choreography so outstanding that you may forgive such lazy songwriting.
On opening your Playbill, you may be struck by the very short song list. For a two-act, nearly three hour musical by one of the most prolific pop composers of our time, you would think there would be a little more...well...music. It is not to be. This is a very book-heavy show, and the book is extremely strong. At points, though, it feels more like a play with music, than a full-fledged musical.
Of the musical numbers, the Billy/Billy ballet and the closing number of Act One are serious showstoppers that will easily become classic. There are other numbers where you might wonder if this Emperor actually has no clothes. I wondered this a few times, particularly in Billy's Act One number with Michael, when they end up dancing with a bunch of giant tap-dancing dresses. Seriously. This "what were they thinking" moment immediately takes you out of the theatre and plops you in a bad theme-park show.
As for the cast, I didn't really find a weak link in the entire ensemble. They are all really fantastic. It goes without saying that Kiril Kulish is phenomenal, and Carol Shelley and Gregory Jbara also both deserve all the kudos that will eventually fly their way. The ensemble features a huge cast of children, and they are all giving wonderful performances. With large childrens' ensembles, there are usually one or two who are giving hammy, mugging performances, but I didn't see any of that here. Every one is just outstanding.
Costumes are appropriate to the setting. Lighting is sharp and moody. Set, as previously stated, is just plain ugly, and..going by the fact that they stopped twice for technical difficulties well into previews....not entirely functional.
As for the show's finale, or lack thereof, I won't spoil any surprises except to say that those hoping for some kind of giant show-stopping grand finale should probably head over to The Lion King or Phantom or something like that, because this show ends with one single, quiet moment, not with a big flashy bang. And, on thinking about it, that is probably appropriate, although at the time, my partner and I both turned to each other and said, "That's it???"
Did I enjoy the show? I enjoyed parts of it very much. As a whole...I was a little disappointed, I must admit. Again, I think it is all about perception. Had I gone in expecting a smaller show, and had I not believed the hype and been expecting the second coming of I don't even know what, I probably would have had a much better time.
As it is, while Billy Elliot may not live up to its impossibly amazing reputation, it is a fairly solid show with a moving storyline, and at the very least, it is refreshing to see something this ambitious on Broadway, instead of the fluff we are usually treated to these days.
