BILLY ELLIOT This Afternoon

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 7:32pm

In a word, IN-F*CKIN'-CREDIBLE. Not since seeing the original cast of THE PRODUCERS in 2001 have I been upset at the prospect of the show ending.

David Alvarez is a tremendous dancer, certainly a star on the rise, one to look out for. Greg Jbara is a big (as in, he gained a lot of weight), ole softy, with excellent timing. Carole Shelley has a big number and then disappears for 3/4 of the show. Haydn Gwynne is exquisite. Joel Hatch, late of ADDING MACHINE, deserves a Featured Actor Tony nom.

Stephen Daldry directs the ensemble of 50-something with ease. I think the reason why the show works so well is the fact that he directed the film, Lee Hall wrote the film, and Peter Darling choreographed the film. Who knows the material better than they do, hence all of their working on the show? And, for the record, it's Elton's best theatrical score to date.

I've never seen the Imperial so full, yet I was still able to move into one of the mezzanine boxes from my seat in the last row, during the intermission.

On the train, I had a funny thought. Anyone else recall that "Simpsons" episode where the school has a science fair, Skinner finds the thing that deserves first prize and says "Well, you can throw out all the other projects..."? That's how I feel. Screw SHREK and 9-to-5 and VANITIES. Give BILLY the prize.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 7:34pm

I'm so excited to see this!

Why hasn't Trent gone on yet? Anyone know?

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 8:00pm

Maybe, as in London, they are letting the boys go on for a run of 3 or 4 shows to get the feel of it instead of one show then off for 2 or 3 ! Thats what Elton wanted in London. The London production had one of the longest preview periods ever for a musical and it was to get the boys up to a level of confidence that was needed to face the press.
It worked!
Updated On: 10/4/08 at 08:00 PM

[LTinOregon]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 8:26pm

I saw the show this afternoon as well with David Alvarez. This kid is known as a ballet dancer since he studies ballet at the American Ballet Theater, but nobody can imagine what a great actor he is. The final scene says it all!!! David Alvarez reminded me of the children of "Forbidden Games" and the boy of "The 400 Blows", movies of the 1960's with exceptional performance by children. You can tell that he has been directed by someone like Stephen Daldry. No doubt he could have a long career not only as a ballet dancer, but also as an actor. I have been seeing theater for a long time, but I have to tell that I have never been touched by another child actor the way David Alvarez did this afternoon. In addition, the casting was amazingly synchronized with Alvarez. In general, the direction of the actors is superb.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/4/08 at 8:59pm

I totally agree, yankeefan.

Although I am excited to see what kind of fight 9 TO 5, mainly, will put up for Best Musical.

We had pretty much the same thoughts on it...I'm so happy people are loving this show.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 12:25am

I am so excited to hear such positive buzz for this show!!

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 12:25am

I was so excited that I had to say it twice.

Updated On: 10/5/08 at 12:25 AM

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 2:22am

Having seen and 9 to 5 in LA and Billy Elliot in London, I think Billy Elliot will easily win Best Tony. 9 to 5 is a very enjoyable show but Billy Elliot is a modern masterpiece.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 2:41am

What, so 13 isn't going to win?

Yankee, how much did you pay for your tickets in the back?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 4:54am

And modern masterpieces get Tony Awards? How quickly we forget Light in the Piazza losing to Spamalot!?! The Tony voters aren't exactly known for getting it "right".

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 9:07am

I paid $41 - something like that.

And I'm a strong believer that the Tonys were entirely correct that year, Cats.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 9:18am

The Tony for Best Musical usually goes to the nominee that is the most overtly commercial, most financially successful, has the potential to clean up on the road, and is of at least reasonable artistic quality. Only time in recent years that the opposite happened was when Passion beat Beauty and the Beast - but a vote for Passion was a vote against Disney, and not FOR Passion.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 10:06am

Smaxie, you are so right about Passion vs. Beauty and the Beast.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 6:16pm

Rear Mezz G-J $41.50

Picked up a couple of dates today at the box office. I just hope they dont pull a "Mermaid" and raise these prices.

I just have a funny feeling that they are gonna raise them to
$51.50.

[Hank]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 8:30pm

Smaxie, you might also remember Avenue Q over Wicked, and Thoroughly Modern Millie over Mamma Mia.

Getting back to Billy, after seeing it last night, and despite all you may have read about the set difficulties, I agree it will hard to top. BETM will be both an artistic and commercial success. But I'm also looking forward to Shrek.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 8:35pm

Smaxie, you might also remember Avenue Q over Wicked, and Thoroughly Modern Millie over Mamma Mia.

If you read Smaxie's post, Mamma Mia! was certainly not known for having any notable artistic quality that year. If anything, Urinetown should've won. Avenue Q campaign gave them that win over Wicked, but still had similar financial potential, at least back then.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 10/5/08 at 8:40pm

As simple-minded as it sounds/is, the Tony Voters are also most likely to vote for what they enjoyed the most, unless you give them a really good reason not to.

Example: PASSION vs BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. No one who enjoyed BEAST wanted to admit it, and a vote for PASSION was (as John Heilpern puts it) like a vote for God.

BILLY ELLIOT has the enviable advantage of being both critically raved-for and a hugely popular success. Someone must like it a whole lot.

I never say this, because you really never know; and I could totally be proven wrong at the last minute.

But BILLY ELLIOT is going to win. No other new musical this season has this kind of buzz, and no other new musical is likely to top the reviews BILLY 'll get.

PS. And if a new musical came out of the blue and managed to match BILLY's reviews, who in their right mind would complain?

Updated On: 10/5/08 at 08:40 PM