BILLY ELLIOT reviews

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 4:10pm

B+ from Entertainment Weekly, which reviewed Kiril:

"Also flourishing are the on-stage performers. Haydn Gwynne plays a suitably disillusioned ballet instructor reawakened by Billy's talent; Gregory Jbara portrays Billy's dad as both gruff and loving; and Carole Shelley makes a showy turn as the hero's sweet but steely-cored grandma. Which brings us to Billy, a role shared by three youngsters (Kiril Kulish, an incredible dancer with a passable singing voice, rotates with Trent Kowalik and David Alvarez). No offense to Patti LuPone or any of the other divas of the Great White Way, but this is the single most challenging role on a Broadway stage right now. The actor must perform long, highly aerobic dance routines in nearly every other scene and only seems to slip off stage to change costumes. On the evidence so far, these young show-stoppers are nailing it.

Billy Elliot is by no means perfect. Like the original London production, it is still too long (with a seemingly endless curtain call). Some numbers are less melodically compelling ('He Could Go and He Could Shine'), and some scenes are awkwardly staged. But the ideas that work here — and there are many — work magnificently, whether it's presenting the striking miners and the police as opposing choruses or the moving second-act pas de deux with Billy and his older self (New York City Ballet vet Stephen Hanna). In such moments, the potential of Billy Elliot, both character and show, seems both boundless and fully realized. In tough economic times that seem eerily similar to 1980s Britain, in fact, it's easy to imagine projecting all of our recession-weary hopes onto the slender shoulders of a precociously gifted pre-teen boy."

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20240252,00.html

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 4:40pm

4 out of 4 from Matt Windman, amNY, who reviewed David:

“Billy Elliot: The Musical” is the real deal: a truly compelling and absolutely spectacular theatrical experience destined to be a smash hit. Easily the best British musical since “Les Miz,” it feels appropriate that it is playing at the Imperial Theatre, once home to that long running musical. Simply put, you cannot miss it...
We could go on for days discussing the sheer brilliance of the staging. In addition to the beauty of the dance scenes, Daldry and Darling cinematically blend movement from the entire cast into the story. The showstopper “Solidarity,” for instance, seamlessly juxtaposes the violence between the miners and police with the peaceful ballet students.

The title role is so demanding it is shared by three young actors. 14-year-old David Alvarez, who we saw perform the role, is not much of a singer, but his dancing is astonishing. Acting-wise, he performs the role in a withdrawn and noticeably restrained manner, only exploding in solo scenes like the Act One finale “Angry Dance” and “Electricity,” where he loses himself to the freedom of dance."

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/2008/11/theater_review_of_billy_elliot.html

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 4:43pm

Off to a great start! I hope they're all this stellar and I have no doubts in my mind that they will be.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 5:11pm

Posted: 11/13/08 at 6:38pm

Talkin Broadway is up... mixed to negative

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/BillyE.html
Updated On: 11/13/08 at 06:38 PM

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 6:45pm

There MUST be a critic out there who saw the same thing I did....

garbage!!!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 6:46pm

Mixed from TALKIN BROADWAY?

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 6:47pm

Mixed might be the most negative this crap gets. So I wouldn;'t be complaining, my dear.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 6:49pm

....I wasn't complaining I was trying to see to what degree of positivity everyone seemed to think the review read. I wasn't sure if it was mixed or negative overall.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 7:06pm

I couldn't agree more with the Talkin' Broadway review. He hit the nail on the head.

And rOcKS, that review is Mixed-Negative.

The cast and Billy's dances are this show's only redeeming factors.

And those aren't enough to make a complete, satisfying musical.

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 7:08pm

AMEN TO THAT, WANNA BE.

[DDdirector]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 7:08pm

I agree with TB's review too. The night I saw it, I didn't see what the big fuss was about. I would give it mixed to negative.

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 7:09pm

yes. same. except. it would JUST be negative.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 7:15pm

Variety (who reviewed David) is Very Positive:

'Three-and-a-half years may seem a long time for an instantaneous London smash like "Billy Elliot: The Musical" to cross the Atlantic, but the delay looks to have played serendipitously into the producers' hands. With unemployment figures soaring and the economy in the dumps, the zeitgeist could hardly be more attuned to the stirring story of a Northern England miner's son liberated from bleak reality by his passion for ballet. But even without that happy accident of timing, American audiences would have no trouble connecting with the universal sentiment of this bittersweet dual celebration of community and individuality.'

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939021.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

Updated On: 11/13/08 at 07:15 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 7:30pm

Bravo.

THAT'S the show I saw!

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 8:13pm

The Associated Press (which reviewed David) is a Rave:

'...In the end, though, "Billy Elliot" is a very intimate, personal story. It celebrates being true to yourself and finding your place in the world — even against the most adverse of circumstances. For the striking coal miners, a way of life is disappearing, never to return; for others, such as young Billy, a whole new adventure is about to begin. And "Billy Elliot" tells his tale with amazing theatricality.'

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/13/entertainment/e163932S99.DTL

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 8:23pm

<< Like the original London production, it is still too long (with a seemingly endless curtain call). >>

Thats the only real problem I have with the show. The curtain call is really too long. Other than that...love it !

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 8:55pm

I'd love to see Santino Fontana get some great raves. He's doing some pretty fantastic work. Greg Jbara is also turning in the performance of his life.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 8:55pm

Ben loves it.

(as did I)
Solid-Gold Smash

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 8:58pm

Now that's a money review.

[keithp]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 9:12pm

You are obviously entitled to your opinion but do you have to be so rude about anybody whose view differs from yours.
You use such inflammatory language.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 9:13pm

I'm surprised that Brantley only had one word -- literally -- to say about Gregory Jbara's performance.

[keithp]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 9:14pm

That last remark was for the attention of Liza+Jesus and not the last poster!

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 9:15pm

That was a big disappointment for me - but the overall reviews (except for the psychopaths at ATC) are glorious!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 9:16pm

i think he mentioned the grandmother more than carole shelley was in the actual show!

still, i'm thrilled he loved it. i'm glad it is such a rave. i hope the $41.50 least expensive ticket price doesn't go up!!!