BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
keith2
Stand-by Joined: 4/9/06
#1BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/13/08 at 6:55pmDo you think the success of this show in London will carry over to the U.S.?
#2re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/13/08 at 7:30pmNo.
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!''
Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
puppetman2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/2/08
#2re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/13/08 at 7:44pmDepends if they can make the poolitical elements relevent for US auriences. My relatives saw it in London and were lost as to what the political things meant. Even someone outisde the UK can't get the full meaning of the film.
It Sucks To Be Me
jordangirl
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/1/06
#3re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/13/08 at 7:48pm
I saw it in London and loved it, but honestly I questioned how well it will go over with US audiences. I'd like to think it will, but there were certain moments (I can't really name them off the top of my head) that I really thought "I just don't know how this is going to play."
As much as I want it to succeed, I'm a little afraid it may have the same fate of the smash West End play that was in the Imperial last summer. Yes, I'm talking about Coram Boy. Loved and praised over there but unable to find an audience here. I hope I'm wrong and it is well-received. I really do.
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#4re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:22pmI saw it in London. I loved it. I hope it does okay in the US, but I don't think it will. It is too British. What they find enjoyable, and what Americans find enjoyable are completely different. I hope that Billy Elliot is well accepted.
#5re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:58amPlay down the politics and play up the aspirational themes - it's not that the US audience won't get the gist of the the former, but it won't resonate with them in the same way and I don't think that they'll really care...
#6re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 7:16amI loved the Broadway production of 'The Full Monty' but i think when the West End production was announced they should have taken it back to its UK setting. This is the situ i see with 'Billy Elliot'. Its gonna make $Ms on Broadway without a doubt though!
A young actress with Noel coward after a dreadful opening night performance said to him 'Well, i knew my lines backwards this morning!''
Noels fast reply was ''Yes dear, and thats exactly how you said them tonight'!'
#7re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 8:11am
I hope it does well, but think it might not. At least after the initial opening month or two.
Public acceptence high, NYTimes review low.
It may also depend on any changes made to the score, book, lyrics ect as well.
I love the recording.
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
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kooky
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/05
#8re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 8:37amI too hope it does well here, I did LOVE it in London when I saw it.
#9re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:39amThe Thatcher references probably won't go down with most of the audience (although I did get it) my main gripe as I have said before is the design, it is boreing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
daspazoo
Leading Actor Joined: 3/11/06
#10re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:05am
Sondheim likes it, how bad can it be?
In all seriousness though, I think it will do quite well. The main plotline regarding Billy and his dance career is unbelievably moving and universal. The secondary plot line with all the politics is just that, secondary. Most Americans didn't fully grasp it for the movie, but it still managed to do respectably ($21,994,911, for a indie flick that was only budgeted at $5 mil). Also, it combines two themes that have often made for successful musicals: kids and show-business.
Moreover, the reason there's been such a lag between the original London production and the Broadway bow (From March 2005 to this fall; 3.5 years!) is precisely that the creators were worried the production would read 'too British' and wanted to take their time to suitably re-think anything that would need altering for New York.
So I feel there's every reason to expect the show will be a similar success in the Big Apple.
BILLY ELLIOT Broadway Website
...this bird is singing.
#11re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:13amIf the UK can understand the politics in American films TV shows, Musicals then i dont see the problem
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
daspazoo
Leading Actor Joined: 3/11/06
#12re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:21am
Well with America being such a world super-power, and constantly in the international news, I think *most* countries would be able to understand US politics. But with our country's collective arrogance and ignorance, I don't think most Americans could describe other world politics. Take a country like Spain for example--I bet they could say a lot more about our politics than we could about there's. Same is true, I'd bet, with the UK.
The problem is especially exacerbated with political HISTORY, and not current politics. The subject matter in 'Billy Elliot' is close to 20 years old. I, for one, was only two years old twenty years ago, so I'm pretty in the dark about this whole Thatcher business.
Still, as I said before, I don't think the creators will let that get in the way of the production on Broadway.
...this bird is singing.
#13re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 12:39pm
I can't wait for Billy Elliot to come to Broadway! I think it's one of those shows that either Americans will love it or hate it ... if they don't know what's going on. I love the movie and I love the cast recording. I hope others do as well.
Has any casting been announced yet?
#14re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 12:42pmI wonder if the debacle that was "Lestat" will dampen the excitement for "Billy Elliot"...
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music
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#15re: BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON
Posted: 3/14/08 at 1:50pm
I saw it in London and thought it was one of the most brilliant musical theatre productions I've ever seen- it's a musical that's destined to become a classic. By comparison, I didn't like any of Elton John's other musicals with the exception of Lion King which i thought was saved by Taymor's clever staging.
This show will be a HUGE hit. It's a universal story about a boy fulfilling his dreams. The show has a fantastic libretto, great score, great lyrics and wonderful choreography and the direction/staging are superb. The show will get across-the-board critical raves and will be a hot ticket.
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
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