BILLY ELLIOT U.S. VS BILLY ELLIOT LONDON

[keith2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 6:55pm

Do you think the success of this show in London will carry over to the U.S.?

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 7:30pm

No.

[puppetman2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 7:44pm

Depends 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.

[jordangirl]

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.

[greybaby231]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:22pm

I 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.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 6:58am

Play 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...

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 7:16am

I 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!

[EponineAmneris]

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.

[kooky]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 8:37am

I too hope it does well here, I did LOVE it in London when I saw it.

[Justin D]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 10:39am

The 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.

[daspazoo]

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

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:13am

If the UK can understand the politics in American films TV shows, Musicals then i dont see the problem

[daspazoo]

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.

[WhenURScrap]

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?

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 12:42pm

I wonder if the debacle that was "Lestat" will dampen the excitement for "Billy Elliot"...

[BroadwayBaby6]

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.