BILLY ELLIOT reviews- Page 3

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 8:22am

Wow! So it ended up being an overall good night for BILLY!

The Brantley review alone should sell a crapload of tickets...not that they needed his help but it won't hurt, I'm sure.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 8:27am

Wow. I'm SOOOO excited for them Espcially the NYTimes/Brantly

[Salene]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 8:27am

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/20081113_billy_elliot.html
Almost every frame in the movie is laminated with that sort of tension. Almost every minute in the stage musical is driven by character-building and storytelling. And both film and show, in the end, are testaments to the power of the human spirit.
Updated On: 11/14/08 at 08:27 AM

[Billy Whiz]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 8:33am

"Mrs. Wilkinson’s grubby rehearsal pianist (Stephen Hanna) strips out of his civvies to become a gyrating disco boy for a number called “Born to Boogie”."

Shame that Ben Brantley didn't quite get his facts right as it is actually Thommie Retter that plays the part of Mrs Wilkinson's pianist, Mr Braithwaite. Stephen Hanna plays the older Billy in the Dream Ballet sequence.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 8:34am

Yeah I noticed that too!

[Trish2]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 9:20am

The Wall Street Journal.....ouch.
Karl Marx In A Tutu

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 9:26am

a sampling of links to twelve reviews and a brief excerpt from each:

# Ben Brantley in The New York Times, with a review in the print edition that fills the top half of page one in the "Weekend Arts" section and is referenced on the front page of the main news section with another color photo, writes: "Few people may have the gift of this show’s title character, a coal miner’s son in northern England who discovers he was born to pirouette. But the seductive, smashingly realized premise of 'Billy Elliot' . . . is that everybody has the urge. And in exploring that urge . . . this show both artfully anatomizes and brazenly exploits the most fundamental and enduring appeal of musicals themselves."


# Barbara Hoffman in the New York Post (Clive Barnes is on leave.) writes: (**** out of 4 stars) "'Billy Elliot' opened last night, proving itself the best gift from Britain since Harry Potter. . . . Here he's [Elton John's] given us memorable music - by turns anthemic, folksy and rock-and-roll rousing - that serve Hall's lyrics well. You'll probably wake the next day humming their raucous 'Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher'. . . ."


# Joe Dziemianowicz in his New York Daily News blog writes: "The show's creative forces - Stephen Daldry, Lee Hall and Peter Darling - who repeat duties as director, writer and choreographer, and who are joined by composer Elton John - are to be commended for bringing "Billy" to the theater with smarts, clarity (yes, Americans will "get" the across-the-pond references, including the expletives), imagination and tender loving care."


# Michael Kuchwara for the Associated Press writes: "It's not often that a musical comes along that is as ambitious as it is emotional — and then succeeds on both counts. . . . But 'Billy Elliot' is an exceptional work that exemplifies what the best musicals are all about: collaboration. Everything comes together in this impressive, warmhearted adaptation. . . ."


# Matt Windman in AM New York writes:
(**** out of 4 stars) “'Billy Elliot: The Musical' is the real deal: a truly compelling and absolutely spectacular theatrical experience destined to be a smash hit. . . . Simply put, you cannot miss it. . . . In his first great score for the theater, [Elton] John mixes rock and roll, folk ballads, political anthems and parody."


# John Simon for Bloomberg News writes: "'Billy Elliot'. . . really does have something for everyone, and that something is, gloriously, art. . . . But the best and biggest surprise is the way the cast, under Daldry's direction, never makes the slightest false step, balletic, histrionic or emotional."


# Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune writes: (***½ stars out of 4) writes: "'Billy Elliot', a sentimental, inspiring, thrilling show that treats the arts as both an escape hatch and a key component of human hope, has found an apt new moment [the economic downturn]."


# Richard Zoglin in Time Magazine writes: "Billy Elliot does almost everything a musical should do, and more. . . . Oh, and there are songs, too — good ones by Elton John, with lyrics by Lee Hall, — but they are so tightly woven into the action that you almost hate to single them out. . . . In telling its uplifting tale, Billy Elliot does an amazing job of not pandering."


# David Rooney in Variety writes: "He [Billy Elliot] also gets the standout song, the show-stopping "Electricity." True to its title, that number and its extended dance interlude send a visceral charge through the audience that raises the spirits in the way only a musical can. That 'Billy Elliot' is as much an elegy as a celebration is what makes it such a winner."


# Linda Winer in Newsday writes: "Broadway's long, dark, dry spell of big, smart, smash musicals is officially over. . . . Elton John has written an ambitious, varied, altogether satisfying grown-up score that, after his sentimental Disney music, we never dreamed he had in him. . . . [Peter] Darling's impressive choreography seems to infuse everyone in the big cast with a personal story. . . ."


# Malcolm Johnson in the Hartford Courant writes: "'Billy Elliot The Musical' has everything . . . and a variety of ringing songs by Elton John and Lee Hall. . . . it will draw in countless more customers with a mounting that justifies the astronomical ticket price. Bravo, Billy."


# David Sheward in BackStage writes: ". . . one of the smartest and most satisfying Broadway musicals in years. . . . Tough, intelligent, exuberant, electric, politically savvy, and fun are all accurate adjectives for Billy Elliot. Long may he dance on Broadway and across the country."

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 9:28am

The conservative Wall Street Journal didn't like a show that speaks ill of its goddess Margaret Thatcher?

I'm stunned!

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:13am

FOX News... Rave!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,451889,00.html

[AntonEgo]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:16am

I have yet to see this and I was wondering how soon do you think they will raise the prices for the $41.50 seats? Also, I know that they don't post who will be Billy until that day, but has it been consistent with a certain person playing matinees. Anyone who has seen it multiple times, would you recommend a weekend evening or matinee or does it really not make a difference? Thanks so much.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:19am

They'll definitely raise the $41 ticket prices.

[keithp]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:21am

Should a man with such deep seated prejudices be an arts critic? I always believed you had to have a certain open-mindedness to be a theatre critic.
The headline speaks volumes about his pettiness.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:25am

It's up...but I haven't watched it yet. Helen is so freaking annoying...
WORD OF MOUTH REVIEW

[yankees1253]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:41am

The Lower Hudson Valley Journal News:
Front Page of Our Life and Style.
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811140310

Jacques Le Sourd saw David Alvarez.

'Billy Elliot' is the Broadway season's first big musical hit

sorry did not want to copy and paste the article because of all of the ads and stuff on the website.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 10:48am

Word Of Mouth is a flat out Love fest

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:19am

"The conservative Wall Street Journal didn't like a show that speaks ill of its goddess Margaret Thatcher?

I'm stunned!"

Calvin, I was actually chuckling reading that review thinking the exact same thing!

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:33am

Indeed!

And lest someone say I say that as a rabid devotee of the show, were I to write a review of it, it would be somewhat mixed. But the blatant interjection of the political into that WSJ review is just silly. It's no more of a one-sided show, as the review put it, than say "Rent" or even "Annie." (even the Republicans love Roosevelt in Annie's world!)

[jess20882]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 11:44am

were any of us 'civilians' at the show?

i'd love to read a review from someone who's not a published critic i tried to get tickets at the box office, where i waited around for a couple hours, but...no such luck.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 12:02pm

That WORD OF MOUTH review was actually painful to sit through. For various reasons.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 12:14pm

It's no more of a one-sided show, as the review put it, than say "Rent" or even "Annie."

I'm sort of wondering what they were expecting, politically speaking. Did they think the title of the show was somehow supposed to be ironic? I think they must have been disappointed that, like the film, the show was actually about Billy Elliott.

The conservative Wall Street Journal didn't like a show that speaks ill of its goddess Margaret Thatcher?

But they loved the politic-free High School Musical at Papermill! British boy who wants to be a ballet dancer = BAD. American kids who sing and dance and don't have sex = GOOD.

Posted: 11/14/08 at 12:51pm

NY Daily News is positive... 4.5 stars out of 5

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2008/11/14/2008-11-14_billy_elliot_makes_a_great_leap_onto_bro.html

Updated On: 11/14/08 at 12:51 PM

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 1:08pm

John Simon is a Rave. How about that?

'A show's claim to offer ``something for everyone' usually signals disaster: the lowest common denominator and the antithesis of art. Well, for once, the exception proves true: ``Billy Elliot' -- London's long-running hit with Elton John's music, finally replicated on Broadway -- really does have something for everyone, and that something is, gloriously, art.'

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601098&sid=a3Am4CZsygbs&refer=movie

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 1:13pm

NY1 is a rave:

http://www.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/theater_reviews/Default.aspx

"...
Full of warm sentiment, "Billy Elliot" never seems overtly sentimental, even in the most heart-wrenching scenes. The production remains artfully engaging, though occasionally the accents may leave you lost in translation. And credit the creative team's ability to cultivate professionally-poised performances from the kids without the cloying precociousness that usually slips in at that age.

The tuneful score may be Elton John's best yet. Lee Hall who wrote the original screenplay contributed the book and lyrics, effectively adapting the story for the stage; Peter Darling's choreography is literally breathtaking.

As for the adults, bravo to each and every one. From Carole Shelly as the addled grandmother to Gregory Jbara's touchingly calibrated performance as Billy's dad and the fabulous Haydn Gwynne who created the role of Mrs. Wilkinson in London. But it's young Billy's show. Fourteen-year-old Kiril Kulish, who I saw, is an absolute dynamo on stage, dancing singing and acting with

When I saw the show in London, I loved it, but I was concerned it wouldn't translate to American audiences. Its creators have tweaked and tinkered enough to guarantee that "Billy Elliot" on Broadway continues to leap straight into your heart."

[Brick]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 1:15pm

I don't understand why some people are trying to pretend this didn't get mixed-to-positive, if not just positive reviews.

I undertstand disagreeing with the common opinion, but some people are flying every negative review like it is the voice of reason.

Face it, BILLY got good reviews. Money reviews, at that.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 1:26pm

Did anyone see this? Teachout seems as lovely as ever. (Sarcasm.)

He calls the show "insulting" and "shamelessly bogus."

http://tinyurl.com/5b7j63